We scored an important victory last Thursday night when John McCain turned thumbs down to his party's attempt to repeal Obamacare without a better replacement. The fight is not over though. Obamacare is not sustainable. The truth is private health insurance is not sustainable. It is time to join the rest of the world and guarantee healthcare as a right to everyone.
When Republican senator after Republican senator accused the Democrats of not offering a solution, they were lying. There is a bill in the House, H.R. 676, The Expanded Improved Medicare for All Act.
Note: The video above is from the "Our Lives on the Line" rally this past Saturday in Des Moines, Iowa.
According to the legislation's summary, the system would cover all medically necessary services, including primary care, medically approved diet and nutrition services, inpatient care, outpatient care, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, hearing services, long term care, palliative care, podiatric care, mental health services, dentistry, oral surgery, eye care, chiropractic, and substance abuse treatment. Patients have their choice of physicians, providers, hospitals, clinics, and practices. There are no co-pays or deductibles allowed under this act. It would also cover all prescription drugs. That's right, no co-pays, no deductibles, and no prescription drug costs. Higher taxes would replace premiums, so we do not promise free healthcare.
Senator Bernie Sanders will soon be proposing legislation in the Senate. In a letter to supporters, he said: "Let me be clear. This will be an enormously challenging and prolonged struggle and one which will require the efforts of tens of millions of Americans in every state in this country. It will, in fact, need a political revolution in which the American people participate in the political process in a way that we have not seen in the recent history of our democracy.
"To pass a Medicare-for-all, single payer system we will be taking on the most powerful special interests in the country: Wall Street, the insurance companies, the drug companies, the corporate media, the Republican Party and the establishment wing of the Democratic Party. In opposition to our efforts, there will be a never-ending barrage of TV ads, editorials, political attacks and lies.
