Yves here. The ongoing tumult surrounding Donald Trump, particularly regarding his retreats on the Epstein files and his inconsistent stance on Ukraine, has overshadowed several significant stories that deserve attention. A key issue is the unresolved expiration of the enhanced Obamacare subsidies put in place during the Covid-19 pandemic. This program notably increased participation in Obamacare and successfully decreased the uninsured population. As this critical change looms, it coincides with projected substantial hikes in Obamacare premiums, averaging a staggering 26% increase. Both political parties have been slow to address this issue as the annual sign-up period approaches its December deadline. Trump’s proposed solution—a one-time lump-sum payment—remains inadequate.
However, there may be a last-minute solution on the horizon:
Bipartisan House members float two-year Obamacare subsidy extension https://t.co/7qW2YPnKrU
— POLITICO (@politico) November 21, 2025
By Brad Reed, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published at Common Dreams
In a recent op-ed published in the Boston Globe, Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) criticized the Republican healthcare proposals, labeling them as “absurd” and suggesting they would exacerbate the existing flaws in the healthcare system.
Sanders specifically condemned Trump’s proposal to provide Americans with a lump-sum payment to negotiate their own healthcare, which he argued would be “an absolute disaster.”
“Given that over 60 percent of Americans live paycheck to paycheck, a $6,500 check is insignificant against the backdrop of soaring medical costs,” he asserted. “How does a person in need of $150,000 for cancer treatment manage with just $6,500? What about a pregnant woman when the average childbirth cost exceeds $20,000? How can someone recovering from a heart attack afford a $50,000 hospital bill with just $6,500 to their name?”
Sanders warned that such a flawed approach would inevitably lead to more bankruptcies due to medical expenses, an issue not found in countries providing universal healthcare.
“Trump’s strategy would result in increased medical bankruptcies, unaffordable care, and longer lives lost to preventable causes in the wealthiest nation on the globe,” he lamented.
He emphasized that a sustainable solution to the US healthcare crisis lies in establishing a single-payer Medicare for All system, which he has advocated throughout his career.
Recognizing the current lack of congressional support for this initiative, Sanders proposed alternative measures to serve as stepping stones towards universal healthcare. These included extending the enhanced tax credits initially introduced in 2021 as part of the American Rescue Plan; reversing nearly $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid enacted earlier this year; and broadening Medicare coverage to include dental, vision, and hearing care.
He also urged the president to back a ban on stock buybacks and dividends by health insurance companies, viewing these as misallocations of resources that should prioritize patient care.
“The American public understands our healthcare system is broken,” Sanders concluded. “With a heightened awareness of health issues, Democrats must galvanize the nation around a sensible healthcare system that serves everyone, rather than just the interests of insurance and pharmaceutical companies.”
On the same day, Sanders reiterated these points in another op-ed published by Fox News, criticizing the GOP for slashing Medicaid funding to enable wealthier individuals, like Tesla CEO Elon Musk, to have more resources for “developing robots that threaten high-paying jobs across the country.”
Earlier this week, Sanders also sent a letter urging congressional Democrats to advocate for the policies outlined in his recent opinion pieces.
In summary, as healthcare funding debates intensify, the urgency for effective solutions becomes ever more apparent. The proposals put forth by Sanders provide crucial insights into addressing the existing shortcomings in the US healthcare system.
It remains to be seen whether bipartisan efforts will materialize in time to avert a crisis, but the discussions surrounding healthcare reveal a deep commitment to reform by some lawmakers.
