We are the only “developed” nation without universal access to health care. Not only is US health care more expensive than all other industrialized nations, but we Americans are less healthy than citizens in more than half of countries worldwide as measured by the World Population Review.
Given the lack of support by President Biden for universal access to healthcare, Massachusetts is urgently proposing Medicare for All legislation (S.766 and H.1267) to extend healthcare for its residents.
As a member of the Mass-Care Coalition, the Green-Rainbow Party members submitted testimony for the October 26th hearing. Most addressed the social injustice of the current privatized system in Massachusetts. Others mentioned the excessive costs and inefficiencies of the current health care. (Losing access to employer-provided health insurance is especially painful during the pandemic.) But this is not a new challenge for citizens’ rights. Beacon Hill leadership has long ducked their obligation to worthy Bay Staters by claiming to “wait” for Congress to enact a federal plan.
19 states, including Massachusetts, are proposing a variation of the vastly popular “single-payer health insurance.” US Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis opined in 1939 that "a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country."
Greens, who support social justice and healthcare for all, are in the ideal position to support the single-payer healthcare system. There is still time to contact your state Senator and Representative. Keep up to date with Mass-Care.
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― Frederick Douglass
This is basic wisdom for those of us who attempt change through the legislative process. We must make and doggedly pusue the demand. Legislative committee hearings are too often the burying grounds of “the peoples’” legislation. We must pursue the Health Care Finance committee members giving H.1267 and S.766 (Medicare for All) a favorable report out of committee and a open, publically recorded roll call vote on the legislation. No closed door, voice only voting. Eacjh legislator must be held accountable to their constituents for their vote.
It is time our Massachusetts legislators awaken and bring our Commonwealth into the 21st century. It is unacceptable that one of the richest states in the richest country in the history of the world fails so miserably is providing quality helathcare for its entire popukation.