Buttigieg touts Medicare plan in new Iowa ad

Democratic presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg’s campaign touts his “Medicare for all who want it” plan in a new ad released in Iowa. 

The South Bend, Ind., mayor draws a contrast between his plan and the “Medicare for All” plans proposed by progressive Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) in the 30-second television spot. 

{mosads}”First, my plan gives everybody access to Medicare. Everybody,” Buttigieg says in the ad. “But, if you’re happy with the private insurance you’ve got my plan would let you stick with it — if you want. Now, others say it’s Medicare for All or nothing. I approve this message to say, the choice should be yours.” 

The ad highlights the ongoing debate on how Democrats move ahead on the issue of health care after a groundswell of House candidates successfully campaigned on the issue in 2018, in part leading to the party’s majority in the lower chamber. 

Sanders and Warren’s Medicare for All plans have been a top issue in the debates, with the progressive senators pushing to replace private health insurance with a single plan run by the government. 

Buttigieg criticized Warren last week for not saying whether her health care plan would raise middle-class taxes, calling her “evasive” on the issue. 

“Senator Warren is known for being straightforward and was extremely evasive when asked that question, and we’ve seen that repeatedly,” Buttigieg said last Thursday during an interview on CNN. 

Warren has said that overall costs would drop for those in the middle class because Medicare for All would eliminate the premiums, deductibles, and copays many people currently pay for their insurance plans.