Why doctors are pushing for a universal health care system
Health care experts are pushing Congress to establish a universal national health care program that would provide access to affordable health insurance and expand coverage to more people.
Health care advocates say the federal government should fund the program, known as Medicare for All, through payroll taxes.
They argue the federal tax revenue is a great way to pay for the program.
A bipartisan group of senators and House lawmakers has proposed funding the program through payroll tax increases to cover the cost of providing health care to everyone.
This would require a two-thirds majority in both chambers of Congress.
They want to raise the payroll tax on people making more than $200,000 a year, which is about $1,000 for a single person and $2,000 per couple.
To pay for it, they propose raising the payroll taxes on corporations to about $100 billion a year.
A number of Senate Democrats have called for such a tax increase, and Republicans say it’s unlikely to pass in the Senate.
So far, however, it’s not clear what will happen with the House and Senate.
President Trump has said the government should cover everyone and has proposed extending the payroll-tax hike until 2021.