John,

It’s hard to believe that in a country with the enormous resources of the United States, still over 85 million people are either uninsured or underinsured.

We spend more than twice as much per person on health care compared to other countries, and yet tens of millions of people still cannot get the care they need. At the same time, corporations in the hospital, big pharma, and insurance industries continue to make billions of dollars in profits while costs increase unchecked.

A single-payer, Medicare for All system is the solution that can meet the scale of the crisis we face and guarantee comprehensive, high-quality care for all at a lower cost than what we currently pay.

Fortunately, the Medicare for All Act of 2023 has just been re-introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders and Reps. Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell, and it is co-sponsored by more than half the Democratic caucus.

As Bernie says, “The American people understand, as I do, that healthcare is a human right, not a privilege and that we must end the international embarrassment of the United States being the only major country on earth that does not guarantee health care to all of its citizens... This is an outrage. In America, your health and your longevity should not be dependent on your bank account or your stock portfolio.”

If you agree, sign on now to let Congress know it is time to pass the Medicare for All Act of 2023, and ensure that every person is guaranteed quality healthcare regardless of their ability to pay.

Medicare for All will build upon and expand Medicare to ensure every person in the U.S. has access to primary care, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, substance abuse, reproductive healthcare, and more. It includes long-term care for older Americans and individuals with disabilities, and the right to choose doctors and hospitals without worrying if a provider is in-network.

How can we pay for all this, you may ask? Mainly by eliminating the administrative bloat and profit motive of corporations that delay and deny much needed care.

In 2022, the healthcare industry made a profit of $13.4 billion dollars. This is $13.4 billion that did not go toward patient health. In the U.S, we are already paying far more for health care than people in any other advanced country, yet the U.S. ranks near the bottom in outcomes such as life span and infant mortality.

The typical American family now spends $8,975 per year on health insurance premiums, copayments, deductibles, out-of-pocket expenses, and healthcare-related taxes. About one-third of this goes toward billing and collections, marketing, advertising, and billions of dollars in executive pay and shareholder profits.

Under the Medicare for All Act, total costs including premiums, co-payments, deductibles, and taxes, will be lower because hospitals, doctors, and drug companies are reimbursed directly, without the carve-outs of for-profit insurance. According to Urban Institute estimates, households and businesses will save about $21.9 trillion over ten years, and state and local governments will save $4.1 trillion.

Saving trillions of dollars while providing comprehensive healthcare for all Americans -- this is a better return on investment for the American people by far.

Medicare for All is a no-brainer. Add your name now and demand that Congress support and pass the Medicare for All Act of 2023.

Thank you for urging your Congressperson to act on this, the most important issue affecting the health of all Americans.

- Amanda

Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund