All the Democratic Health-Care Proposals Have One Big Problem

Democrats are engaged in a vigorous debate about how to achieve their goal of universal health-care coverage. Moderates such as Joe Biden want to enhance the existing Affordable Care Act with a “public option.” Progressives like Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren want to junk private insurance and set up a “Medicare for All” system. But looming in front of the discussion is an obstacle no amount of careful messaging will help them overcome: Even the most modest Democratic plan would face intense opposition from health-related industries, not to mention Republicans.

Already, powerful interest groups are mobilizing and pooling resources to undermine the Democrats’ plans. The Partnership for America’s Health Care Future—a lobbying group that represents insurance companies, drugmakers, hospitals, and other industry players—is running TV ads and commissioning polls designed to undercut support for any expansion of government-provided coverage.