Progressive senators and activists want to ensure that Americans have access to a public option health plan, reports USA Today.
They are launching a campaign Thursday, calling for the Democratic Party to make a public health insurance option a central focus in 2016.
Independent Vermont Sen. "Bernie Sanders, [presidential hopeful] Hillary Clinton and President [Barack] Obama endorse a public option. Now, with big Senate allies and partner organizations, we're pushing the entire Democratic Party to make this a central 2016 issue like debt-free college and expanding Social Security — so we can pass it under a new president," they said on WeWantAPublicOption.com.
Sen. Sanders, along with Democratic Sens. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, Chuck Schumer of New York, Patty Murray of Washington and Dick Durbin of Illinois, will introduce a resolution showing Senate support for efforts to build on the Affordable Care Act by ensuring a public option is available in addition to coverage options provided by private insurers, according to the article.
The report states that various activists led by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, including Presente.org, UltraViolet, Working Families Party, MoveOn.org, Democracy for America, Daily Kos, and the AFL-CIO, strive to garner support for the resolution in a petition at WeWantAPublicOption.com.
The campaign follows Hartford, Conn.-based Aetna's announcement in August that it will leave a majority of state exchanges next year, adding to a tumultuous year for Affordable Care Act exchanges nationwide.