Lunch Forum

Each year the NH Progressive Summit seeks an issue or discussion of strong interest and divide in the progressive community to provide a respectful, common space for dialogue and education.

We are excited to announce the 2019 NH Progressive Summit lunch forum …

Health Care for All Forum

Health care coverage is the most important issue facing most households. Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, millions more Americans gained access to quality, affordable health care over the last decade, but gaps in coverage, the high cost of prescription drugs, surprise medical bills, uneven Medicaid expansion, harsh work requirements, and other barriers mean too many people still can’t get the health care they need even while in the United States we pay more for our health care than any other country. As politicians debate the path forward, several policy proposals have emerged – ACA fix-it’s; a “public option” government plan open to everyone; and universal health care plans which range from single-payer systems to (improved) Medicare for All to building upon what exists today with a combination of public and private programs in which everyone has access to health care.

Should the Affordable Care Act be improved or expanded, or should the nation move swiftly toward universal health care? If the latter, where would the money come from? Our expert panelists will evaluate the current health care proposals and key health care and political considerations as we seek to ensure everyone in America has health care coverage they can depend on. The forum will showcase speakers with a variety of perspectives on how to move forward on health care.

Key questions our panel and NH Progressive Summit participants will address:

• What are the current proposals and policy, political strengths and weaknesses?
• What needs to be included in a plan to bend the cost curve while maintaining or improving quality for patients?
• What have we learned from ACA passage and the fight to implement and protect it?
• What basic criteria define the change we want on health care, short-term and long-term?
• How do we crystalize momentum for meaningful reform before the political momentum for significant change evaporates?
• How does progress on expanding health care for all connect to larger values we are trying to advance?

Advance Reading for Health Care for All Forum:

NH Progressive Summit participants are encouraged to read the Kaiser Family Foundation’s materials to “Compare Medicare-for-all and Public Plan Proposals.”

To compare proposals, select an option from one of the columns below.

Download a side-by-side comparison of these proposals (PDF).

Download proposals introduced during the 115th Congress (PDF).

More information can be found here:

https://www.kff.org/interactive/compare-medicare-for-all-public-plan-proposals/

Registered NH Progressive Summit participants will have an opportunity to submit questions the week prior to the event, and during the morning portion of the event.

---

Past NH Progressive Summit Panels:

2018 CD 1 Democratic Congressional Candidate Forum
2017 The Superdelegate Debate
2016 Gubernatorial Primary Candidates
2015 Education in the 21st Century
2014 Northern Pass: Jobs & the Environment
2013 The Debate Over Expanded Gambling
2012 Gubernatorial Primary Candidates