Marans, D. & Cohn, J. (2017, September 13). Bernie Sanders to Introduce Single-Payer Bill With Major Support in Senate. Huffington Post. Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.com
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) will introduce on Wednesday a new version of his plan to give everybody government-run health insurance, potentially opening a new chapter in the ongoing debate over how to make health care in the U.S. more affordable and available.
The plan calls for an overhaul of American health insurance with a souped-up, more generous version of Medicare replacing nearly all private health insurance ― and government exerting far more control over the cost of medical care. It would arguably be the most ambitious social welfare initiative in U.S. history, but Sanders told HuffPost in an interview Tuesday that he believes America is ready for it. —Read more
COMMENTARY:
The tide is certainly turning in favor of Medicare for All! Fifteen US Senators, all Democrats, have stepped up in support of Sanders’ new federal bill.
Notably, several influential Democrats including Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D, CA) oppose Sanders’ bill, preferring to defend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and its transfer of our tax dollars to the corporate health insurance industry.
Pelosi and Feinstein remain loyal to the ACA even as it is increasingly recognized that the ACA has not achieved universal health insurance, and in fact has worsened the problem of underinsurance (when insured people cannot use their insurance because they can’t afford the out-of-pocket costs). In addition, under the ACA, premiums are increasing at an unsustainable pace across the country.
Sanders has not yet released the financing options for his Medicare for All bill, but stated that a white paper on the subject will be released later today, Wednesday, September 13, 2017.
While the likelihood of federal action is slim because of Republican opposition, Sanders’ new federal bill will keep Medicare for All in the limelight, which will put wind in the sails of advocates for state-based Medicare for All-type systems.
Nowhere is this more evident than in California where the state Democratic Party has included California Medicare for All in their platform. Supporters of a California state healthcare system continue their work to advance SB 562, the Healthy California Act.
What YOU Can DO
If you agree that we need California Medicare for All, take action!
> Tell your State Assemblymember to co-sponsor SB 562, The Healthy California Act!
> Sign our Open Letter to Governor Brown and Our Legislative Leaders!
Dear Governor Brown, Senate President Pro Tem DeLeón and Assembly Speaker Rendon:
Californians need and want guaranteed healthcare that covers everybody for everything for life!
We support the Healthy California Act introduced by Senator Ricardo Lara and co-sponsored by Senator Toni Atkins.
Help all Californians fight the heartless and cruel threats to our health care from Washington DC.
Let’s HEAL California with SB 562, the Healthy California Act!
Yours Truly,