Many efforts in Washington focus on the privatization of Medicare to perpetuate a fragmented multi-payer financing model that is unsustainable and increases administrative costs. One-third of all Medicare beneficiaries are now on private Medicare Advantage plans, which have become major profit centers for commercial insurances who game the system to cover only the healthy. The best means to universal healthcare is one single large risk pool, traditional Medicare insurance. 

HCAC Foundation Board member Robert Messman has revised his original paper on sustainably financing and implementing a single insurer health care system.

Board member Donna Smith believes in building a better healthcare system in the United States, but not at the expense of the poor. Taxing the poor simply is not the way to improve our healthcare system or our focus on public health.

Adam Gaffney from PNHP examines the history of universal healthcare and his hope that the Democrats do not repeat mistakes from the past. He recognizes the need for a single-payer healthcare system and identifies the answer to be a “fully public national health insurance providing comprehensive, universal coverage to the entire nation.”

Medicare for All and the Myth of the 40% Physician Pay Cut  Dr. Carol Paris, President of PNHP (Physicians for a National Health Program), defends how Medicare-for-All decreases administrative waste without affecting a physician's salary.   She believes that the insurance companies are the big winners with our current system while patients are suffering. What are your thoughts?  Please write your comments below.

Senator Bernie Sanders makes the case for Medicare-for-All to replace the current healthcare system "that works for Wall Street investors, insurance companies and the pharmaceutical industry" and ignores the needs of the people.

Tom Gottlieb attended the HealthcareNOW Strategy Conference in Minneapolis June 22-24, 2018.

Donna Smith has been a leader in the fight for universal health care for many years and a relentless advocate for health care reform. Read how this HCACF Board member and former Executive Director of the Progressive Democrats of America's dedication has taken its toll on her personal health; yet she continues to pursue and support her dream of universal health care for all. 

Political action committees of the 5 biggest for-profit health insurers - Aetna, Anthem, Humana, Cigna and United Health – are making large campaign donations to almost as many congressional Democrats as Republicans, in order to counter growing popular support for single payer insurance. As much as they oppose single payer, commercial insurers promote Medicare Advantage plans, which have become increasingly profitable to private insurers. The Coalition for Medicare Choices, created by AHIP, claims to be for the people, but is lobbying Congress to protect insurers’ Medicare Advantage profits.

Insurers’ donations to House Democrats by company as % of total contributions to date

The Medicaid Program is designed to provide health and social services to the vulnerable. The intent of a “work program” is to punish, not provide help.