We Need Medicare For All!

When one of my loved ones is ill or hurt, the only thing I want to focus on is getting them the best care available to make them well again. The last thing I want to worry about is how are we going to pay for it.

Unfortunately, in the United States of America—alone among the so-called “advanced nations”—virtually all of us must always wonder about costs as well as care. Even with the Affordable Care Act, millions and millions of us actually lack access to healthcare because we’re uninsured or underinsured.

People in our nation, in every community from coast to coast, are facing exorbitant costs and rationed care, bankruptcy and even death—all because a few powerful special interests put their profits above our health and lives.

This is immoral, unconscionable, and intolerable—especially considering that healthcare is a basic human right. It would be one thing if we didn’t have an answer. What makes this shocking situation even more appalling is that we do have a solution: Medicare For All.

Click Here to Tell Your Representative to Cosponsor Medicare For All

Anyone who tells you the U.S.A. cannot figure out how to provide complete healthcare to everyone is lying. Costa Rica does it. Cuba does it. The U.K., Canada, Germany, France, Italy—literally every one of our allies—does as well. Fifty years ago, the U.S.A. sent people to walk on the Moon! We can and will guarantee healthcare to all of us. Since our founding in 2004, Progressive Democrats of America (PDA) has prioritized Medicare For All (MFA).

We’ve helped improve the legislation until the latest version of the Medicare For All Act is the best ever; it’s a platinum standard guarantee of the highest standard of healthcare for all of us—without any premiums, copays, deductibles, fees, network restrictions, pre-approvals, caps, fees, or donut holes. After 15 years of organizing, thanks to your actions and contributions, PDA and our allies are making unprecedented progress! Are you ready to step it up?

Our successes aren’t coming a moment too soon. Every year, tens of thousands of Americans die from lack of healthcare. While those who profit from the suffering of patients spend untold $millions to confuse and misinform the public, desperate families hope they can raise enough money through “Go Fund Me” pages to stave off medical and financial ruin. This is a national disgrace.

U.S. Taxpayers spend more than enough to fund a Medicare For All system through our taxes, government subsidies, and corporate write-offs, not to mention our premiums, other out-of-pocket costs, etc. All told, we Americans pay about double on healthcare per capita compared to other nations that guarantee care for all. Even with our gross overcharges, our healthcare outcomes as a nation are mediocre at best.

As our Advisory Board Member and distinguished advocate for #MedicareForAll Dr. Paul Song, M.D. explained in his OpEd from July 3, 2019, in The Hill newspaper:

“…The U.S. infant and maternal mortality rates are substantially higher than those of many other developed nations, making the United States among the most dangerous wealthy nations in which to give birth; and the situation is worsening…”

“…Medicare for all would ensure every U.S. resident had comprehensive health coverage for life, which would go a long way in combating these largely treatable or preventable conditions…”

Dr. Song explains the moral imperative for people of faith to join progressives supporting the movement for #MFA—that it’s not about right vs. left, it’s about right vs. wrong. Medicare For All is the right policy for all of us.

PDA’s Healthcare Is A Human Right Issue Team coordinator Dr. Bill Honigman agrees. He explains, “No one in America can claim the moral high ground and call themselves ‘pro-life’ as long as we allow big insurance and Big Pharma to restrict care for our moms and babies.”

He adds, “Of course, the huge monetary savings and other economic benefits of a #SinglePayer system alone will do much to improve things in all of our communities, especially those currently underserved like rural and inner city America.”

When people wonder “How are we going to pay for it?” Dr. Bill has an easily-understood answer, “With MFA, $billions now squandered on waste, fraud, and abuse will be saved, providing more than enough funding for more and better Healthcare and also for other needs, such as housing, education, infrastructure, and renewable energy.”

Time is of the essence! To prevail, we need as many cosponsors as we can get! Call Congress at 202-858-1717 and Click Here to tell your Representative to Cosponsor Rep. Jayapal’s and Rep. Debbie Dingell’s Medicare For All Act. Also, Click Here to tell your Senators to cosponsor Bernie Sanders’ MFA legislation.

PDA wholeheartedly supports the Medicare For All Act because this legislation will provide comprehensive healthcare for all of us—including, mental, dental, vision, hearing, prescriptions, medical devices, preventative, women’s health, long-term care, and more—with no out of pocket expenses.

PDA helps you make a huge difference with Educate Congress letter drops, action alerts, and coalition efforts with dozens of progressive organizations. Email Mike Fox to make your voice heard on critically important policies.

We appreciate all you do to help make progress on healthcare and other issues. If you’ve never donated to help PDA help you pressure our elected officials, now is the perfect time. We need your support now more than ever. Click here to pitch in $3, $5, or whatever you can afford to support PDA’s issue organizing.

Get your exclusive PDA Healthcare Not Warfare T-shirts while we still have them in stock. These sturdy shirts are 100 percent cotton, American union-made, and will help amplify our call for real change in healthcare in the United States. They are great for parades, rallies, visits to Congressional offices, and everyday wear.

Contact Deb@pdamerica.org for discounts on orders of 5 or more shirts. We have sizes S, M, L, 2X, and 3X still available. Don’t wait—order t-shirts and other items through the PDA Store now, or contact Deb for bulk discounts.

PS: Click Here to watch our MFA Webinar. Click Here to readDr. Paul Song’s op-ed. Click Hereto watch the historic MFA hearings before the House Rules Committee featuring heroic activist Ady Barkan. Join PDA investing to recruit and elect progressive candidates in 2020