Now more than ever, the coronavirus pandemic has brought to light the urgent need for universal healthcare.  The cost of healthcare keeps increasing yet our access to quality care does not. Why? Corporatism has put an emphasis on profit instead of on the patient.

There are many options that claim to be answer to our troubled and costly healthcare system, but a single-payer plan that is publicly funded is the only solution. Our current corporatized model is the reason why so many Americans are calling for reform as the only means to repair our dysfunctional healthcare system.

A frequent assertion by the commercial health insurance industry, echoed by mainstream media and many candidates, is the need for greater 'choice' of private health insurance. However, experience demonstrates that 'choice' remains with insurers, who arbitrarily drop unprofitable plans, medicines, doctors and hospitals, too often leaving the insured high and dry. Insurers can and do choose to cover the healthy, more profitable clients, and drop the sick. Insurance science proves that a single large risk pool insurance like traditional Medicare is much more actuarially sound and financially sustainable than multiple administratively complex small risk pool commercial insurers.

If the United States had a single-payer healthcare system, we would have more coordinated efforts and effective treatments in place to combat COVID-19.  This would help us save lives.

With a single payer system, no one coping with Coronavirus has to be concerned about the cost of testing, medication or getting care; all patients can get the care they need quickly and either free or at a low cost. During this COVID-19 pandemic, countries with universal healthcare have been able to act more efficiently and effectively than here in the United States.

The Economic Policy Institute's research director Josh Bivens reports that contrary to what many critics are saying, Medicare for All could actually increase the number of jobs and help the U.S. labor market. As new jobs are created, workers salaries and wages would increase, which would then have a positive effect on our economy.

The Nevada Culinary Union has established a position which favors benefits provided by private commercial insurance, as opposed to single-payer or universal health care. Information and Disinformation (lies) will become the business of the current 2020 American political campaign. How will Americans/Union members be able to differentiate the truth from lies?

A new study from PLOS Medicine concluded that a single-payer, Medicare for All system would save money, even in its first year of implementation.  Researchers determined that costs would continue to go down over time, as well.

Our partners at Healthcare-NOW! have recently launched their new project, Medicare for All, the Podcast! These are produced by Benjamin Day and Stephanie Nakajima, and focus on the need for universal healthcare for all Americans; it is our right!

As Dylan Scott traveled around the world,  he talked with people about their healthcare system.  He heard their stories, compared both the positives and negatives of each system including costs, and made several comparisons. He concluded that there really is not one perfect system, yet each country has made it work for their citizens.  The United States needs to do the same.

9 Things Americans Need to Learn From the Rest of the World’s Health Care Systems  by Dylan Scott, healthcare policy reporter, VOX    What are your thoughts? Please write your comments below.