"COVID-19 disproportionately impacts those with pre-existing conditions, and our health care system leaves one in five Americans with a pre-existing condition uninsured. Further, with multiple COVID-19 vaccines already in early but slow distribution, attaining universal coverage is critical, particularly in light of uninsurance having an inverse relationship with vaccination rates.

President Biden will need to act with a legislative urgency that matches these times to pass a public option. With two-thirds of the country approving President Biden’s handling of the transition, now is his opportunity. He may just need to take a few pages out of the 'Johnson treatment' playbook in crafting the 'Biden treatment.'"

Jonathan Staloff is a family medicine resident and can be reached on Twitter @jonstaloff.

He shares his story and discusses his KevinMD article, "How President Biden’s quest for a public option mirrors LBJ’s passage of Medicare and Medicaid." (https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2021/01/how-president-bidens-quest-for-a-public-option-mirrors-lbjs-passage-of-medicare-and-medicaid.html)