Republican candidate Michael Alfonso supports voucher style system for healthcare

Republican candidate Michael Alfonso has said he would support a voucher style system for healthcare, including Medicare, in the U.S., according to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report Friday.

Alfonso, the son-in-law of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, is running against former Democratic state lawmaker Fred Clark to represent Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District. The district, which encompasses a large swath of northern Wisconsin, is currently represented by Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany, who is running for governor.

Alfonso was at a campaign event in River Falls when he was asked about school choice programs that direct public money to cover private school tuition for some students  in Wisconsin, and whether a similar approach might be applied to healthcare. 

Alfons said that the concept is his “entire approach” to healthcare, adding that the current system is a “nightmare.”

“If you look at it like school choice, instead of giving the money to the system or to the marketplace, give it to the people and they can choose their coverage,” Alfonso said.

According to KFF, the policy, also known as a premium support system, would provide a payment to Medicare beneficiaries to help them purchase a health insurance plan, either a private plan, Medicare Advantage plan or traditional Medicare. 

The approach has been supported by representatives in Congress before including former House Speaker and Wisconsin U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan. In 2012, analysts said the approach could leave beneficiaries with higher costs, less coverage or both.

The Medicare Rights Center, a national nonprofit, recently wrote about the issue saying that “under this type of system there would be no standard benefit package and no guarantee that the coverage a person buys with their voucher would cover essential health services.” Medicare beneficiaries currently receive a guaranteed standard of health coverage. 

“As much as I want to get the government out, you can’t do it overnight,” Alfonso said. “The first step is giving the money to you, and you can pick your coverage. If you want a high deductible and save some money, great. If you want a low deductible because you’re someone that’s going to meet that deductible real quick, then awesome. I don’t think the government knows what’s best for you. I think you know what’s best for you.”