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