The League of Women Voters has long advocated for policies that promote a basic level of quality health care at an affordable cost to all, while ensuring the efficient and cost-effective delivery of universal care. Now, the moment we’ve been waiting for is here: universal Medicare-for-all, single-payer health care is receiving unprecedented national attention. At last! We believe that health care is a basic human right, not a privilege.
In the last Assembly session the bill passed by 92 to 52. We are now focusing on passage in the Senate. The bill, New York Health, A.5062(Gottfried)/S.3525(Perkins) would cover 100% of New York’s population. There would be no co-pays, deductibles or premiums. Doctors and patients alone would make decisions on care. The coverage would be more comprehensive than commercial insurance, covering all medically necessary services such as primary and preventive care, specialists, hospitals, mental health, substance abuse, dental, vision, hearing, drugs and medical supplies.
Our Health Care Committee is working for passage of the bill by gaining grassroots support. Currently we are holding forums around the State showing the film Fix It: Healthcare at the Tipping Point. The film takes an in-depth look from a businessman’s perspective into how our inefficient system is damaging our economy, while remaining unaffordable for a third of our citizens. We are also working to get County and Municipal Resolutions in support of the New York Health bill. On May 10th we plan to attend the LWVNYS Advocacy and Lobby Day to gain support from additional State Senators.
Madeline Zevon, Madeline.zevon@gmail.com
