What percentage of a tax on payrolls would be required to fund this type of program? 3%? 5%? 10%? 15? Would it even be higher than 15%? (This amount could even be somewhat "hidden" by splitting it between "employer" and "employee" tax -- in a similar manner that the FICA taxes are done.)
Even at 15%, wouldn't that be a palatable thing for the public at large, considering that employers would no longer be paying large sums of money to a group policy... and employees wouldn't be on the hook for payroll deductions for the group plans?
I'd accept that, and I say that as someone who who earns a high income, and would be paying a significantly disproportionately higher amount than lower income folks.
This is what the rest of the world does.
In most developed countries the rate hovers around 7-8% of income
then everyone is covered, doesn't matter age, income, pre-existing conditions, where you work, live, whatever
It's as simple as that, and nobody needs worry about switching jobs, getting sick, deductibles, or whatever.
If you only ever lived in the US and don't know by first hand any other health care system, you need to know that this is a non-issue in Europe, Australia, Canada. NOBODY ever needs to worry about access to health care, or going bankrupt because you had an unexpected health issue.
I hear a lot of misconceptions about health care in other countries, things like "but in Canada the doctors are so bad.. " or "you have to wait to see a doctor for so long that you die while waiting or cross the border to get care in the US" . This is complete nonsense, and even if you have to wait a couple of weeks for MRI instead of going in the day after, you will not die, and will not get a $$$$ bill . Everyone who needs care can get it, virtually nobody needs to start a GoFundMe for a breast cancer surgery.
Why would anyone not want to pay ~10% of their income and never worry again about premiums, deductibles,etc. ? Not just for yourself and your immediate family, but for everyone in this country, even the "lazy burger flippers" .
This is also the meaning of 'affordable' - you pay % of your income, not X $s
The HHS secretary said recently that it only makes sense to pay more for health care if you are sick! No it does not! Maybe yes for supplemental health insurance, just like life insurance.
On all fronts it makes sense to pay fixed % . Everybody gets sick, everybody should have access to health care regardless of how much money you have. Nobody thinks "I would keep eating bacon X3/day because the heart surgery is for free"