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Never before has it been clearer that our current health care system is a total and absolute disaster.

Before the pandemic and economic meltdown, 87 million Americans were uninsured or underinsured despite our country spending twice as much per capita on health care as the people of any other nation. Now, of course, with millions of workers losing their jobs, the number of uninsured has greatly increased.

Unbelievably, there are people in our country today who have coronavirus symptoms, but are unable to seek medical help because they can't afford the costs. How crazy is that!

Our movement understands that access to health care is a basic human right, not an employee benefit. And while we continue the struggle for a Medicare for All, single-payer program, that fundamental principle must be part of any new Senate legislation addressing the pandemic.

We cannot live in a nation where the rich receive all the health care they need, but if you are poor or working class you are out of luck. In the wealthiest country in the history of the world, that is an international embarrassment. And during the horrific pandemic that we are facing right now, the dysfunction of our current health care system has never been more clear.

During this crisis, nobody in America should delay getting medical help because of the cost.

That is why Bernie recently introduced legislation — along with Senators Gillibrand, Booker, Warren, Markey, Merkley and Harris — called the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act. This legislation would allow the federal government to cover all medical treatment costs for as long as this pandemic lasts.

As the Senate prepares to pass the next coronavirus relief package, it is important that we show there is widespread support for Bernie's bill.

Add your name to say you support Bernie's legislation — the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act — to cover health care costs for everyone for the duration of this pandemic.

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Here is how the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act would work:

- The federal government would pay all treatment costs for the uninsured, and all of the out-of-pocket costs for those with public or private insurance, for as long as this pandemic lasts.

- When you go to the hospital or doctor, you'd provide your insurance information as usual. The provider will use this information to bill Medicare — either for the out-of-pocket costs if you have another type of insurance, or for all of the care if you are uninsured. As a patient, you will not be charged anything.

- This would be in effect until there is an FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine that is widely available to the public.

- Health care providers must halt all medical debt collection during this pandemic.

- There would be a limit on prescription drug prices so that those without insurance receive them at no cost, and the federal government would pay the same rate for prescription drugs as the VA.

- The Secretary of Health and Human Services would be required to collect and report data on COVID-19 health disparities based on race, ethnicity, primary language, gender, sexual orientation, disability status, age, geographic location, health insurance status, and socioeconomic status.

As we face the disastrous health crisis created by the coronavirus pandemic, we must provide health care to all in a cost-effective way.

That is what Bernie's legislation will do, and today he is counting on all of us to show there is strong support for this bill.

Add your name in support of the Health Care Emergency Guarantee Act that will provide health care to everyone at no cost during this pandemic.

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This legislation is supported by a large coalition of grassroots groups, including SEIU, the Association of Flight Attendants, National Nurses United, Center for Popular Democracy, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Indivisible, and many others. In the House, it is co-led by Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair Pramila Jayapal and Congressional Black Caucus chair Karen Bass.

Together we will send a powerful message that medical treatment must be available to all at no cost for as long as this crisis lasts. Thank you for adding your name.

In solidarity,

Team Bernie

ADD YOUR NAME

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