The fate of Obamacare is dominating headlines, but far too much of the conversation has missed the big picture. The debate about healthcare ought to be centered upon an overarching vision for healthcare. In the case of Obamacare’s architects, that meant focusing first and foremost on expanding insurance coverage — namely through the government-run Medicaid program. Indeed, three-quarters of the people who gained coverage via Obamacare did so through Medicaid.

The authors of the recently-unveiled Senate Republican bill (and its close cousin that passed the House a few weeks ago), approach healthcare policy with an entirely different mentality. While the bill has its share of imperfections, it succeeds in setting forth a fundamental goal for healthcare — that people from all walks of life should be empowered to participate in private insurance markets.