Washington—Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) today released the following statement in support of legislation crafted by Senators Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to expand the opportunity to buy into a public health plan based on Medicare:

“I have long supported a public health care option based on Medicare to increase choice and competition in Covered California, and expanding availability of such a plan to employers is a commonsense step.

“Around half of Californians are covered by employers, and the Choose Medicare Act would allow large employers the opportunity to choose a plan modeled on traditional Medicare for their workers. Just as they do now, employers would cover a portion of the cost of their workers’ coverage.

“This would increase competition and choice in the employer market and the public plan’s negotiating power would help tamp down health care costs for all employers.

“While defending the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid and Medicare from relentless Republican attacks continues to be a top priority, it’s important to talk about how to move forward and achieve universal coverage and lower health care costs for everyone.”

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