Why DSA’s take on government-funded health care is wrong

Who wouldn’t want to stop worrying about the next medical bill?

Rising premiums, costly prescriptions, and surprise medical bills can turn a medical emergency into a big financial problem.

And Latino families are feeling the pinch. According to a 2026 poll from The LIBRE Institute, 83% of Hispanic voters said their health care costs had increased over the past year.

With so many families frustrated by the cost and complexity of health care, it’s understandable that the Democratic Socialists of America’s (DSA) proposal for universal, government-funded health care sounds appealing.

DSA is promising a system where everyone has coverage, families pay less out of pocket, and people get the care they need.

Making a promise is easy. Delivering on it is the hard part.

But would putting government in charge of health insurance actually lead to better, more affordable care?

The hidden costs of government-run health care

Government-funded health care isn’t the same as free health care.

Someone still has to pay for it.

And the price tag would be enormous.

The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that different versions of a government-funded, single-payer health care system could increase federal health care spending by $1.5 trillion to $3 trillion in 2030 alone.

That’s trillions of dollars Washington would need to fund, either through higher taxes, spending cuts, or more borrowing.

You might be wondering if all that “free” health insurance would be worth the cost.

Free health care means nothing if you can’t see a doctor

Imagine being told your parent needs to see a specialist, only to learn the next appointment is months away.

That’s a real problem in some countries with government-funded health care.

According to a 2025 Fraser Institute study, patients in Canada waited a median of 28.6 weeks between getting a referral from their family doctor and receiving treatment from a specialist.

That’s more than six months.

Canada’s experience raises an important question: What good is health insurance if you can’t get the care you need?

Our health care has some serious problems that need fixing. But expanding coverage alone doesn’t guarantee patients will get the care they need.

What does putting patients first look like?

Improving health care means making it more affordable, making it easier to find a doctor, and easier to get treatment.

Medicare for All promises to make health care more affordable by replacing most private insurance with a government-funded program.

But there are other ways to lower costs and improve access without eliminating private insurance.

Some ideas include:

• Health savings accounts (HSAs): These accounts let eligible families set aside money tax-free to pay for certain medical expenses.
• Direct primary care: Patients pay a regular membership fee that covers doctor’s visits and basic lab tests, without going through insurance for every visit.
• Clearer pricing: Patients can compare prices before choosing a doctor or treatment, helping them avoid unexpected costs.

Families need more than promises

Families deserve health care that works for them — care they can afford, doctors they can see, and treatment they can get when they need it.

Improving health care means removing barriers that make it expensive and difficult to access, while giving patients more control over their decisions.

It’s time to give patients and families the freedom to choose what’s best for them.