September 2010 – Healthcare-NOW

What if everyone had Medicare?

By Henry Abrons – The Census Bureau released its annual report on income, poverty and health insurance coverage in the United States earlier this month, and it’s no surprise to learn that we’re in bad shape. The number of people living in poverty was 43.6 million (14.3 percent), up sharply from 2008, and real per…

The De-Privatization of Medicare

From MassCare – Most of you will have missed a short article tucked away in today’s Boston Globe, which – when put in context – speaks volumes about our health care system. Robert Weisman reports that Harvard Pilgrim will be canceling all of its Medicare Advantage plans in Massachusetts and two other states, and will…

Action Alert: Fair Elections Now Act

Here’s some GOOD NEWS – The Fair Elections Now Act, the bill providing for publicly funded elections for Congress, has passed in committee and has moved to the floor of the House of Representatives. This bill gives members of Congress an alternative to being dependent on campaign cash from lobbyists and it gives any citizen…

AP Poll: Many think health overhaul should do more

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and JENNIFER AGIESTA for Associated Press – WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul has divided the nation, and Republicans believe their call for repeal will help them win elections in November. But the picture’s not that clear cut. A new AP poll finds that Americans who think the law should…

March for Medicare for All on October 2nd

People want more healthcare reform, not less. We have to stay strong for the single-payer healthcare system we need. This is why Healthcare-NOW! is mobilizing for the 10/2/10 March on Washington for Peace, Jobs and Justice. On October 2, we will tell the world that One Nation Needs One Healthcare Plan: Medicare for All! Here…

Big health insurers to stop selling new child-only policies

Anthem Blue Cross, Aetna Inc. and others say they will make the move as soon as Thursday when parts of the new healthcare law take effect. They cite potentially huge and unexpected costs for insuring children. By Duke Helfand, Los Angeles Times – Major health insurance companies in California and other states have decided to…

Action Alert: Ask Congress to Attend Important Briefing

This Thursday, September 23rd an important Congressional briefing is scheduled on Capitol Hill to address changes to Medicare–which could weaken the program–that the Deficit Commission is exploring. The briefing’s panelists will describe the strengths of our current Medicare program, in particular how it reduces poverty and health disparities, and how a single-payer, or “improved Medicare…

How We’re Acting Upon SB 810

From Single Payer Now! – Last month, Assembly Speaker John Perez (D46) made the decision to prevent SB 810 from going up for a vote. Had he done so, and it passed, SB 810 would have moved through to the Governor’s desk, where Schwarzenegger would have vetoed it, as he has done twice before when…

The Persecution of Kate Barnhart

From Out in New Jersey – DA Prosecuting LGBT Activist with Brain Tumor The sidewalk outside of the Manhattan Criminal Court building was a surreal sea of “Kate.” Supporters in all sizes and shapes donned Kate Barnhart masks, effigies of the selfless and tireless patron of homeless youth and health care activist who is now…

Number of uninsured skyrockets 4.3 million to record 50.7 million in 2009

By PNHP – Official estimates by the Census Bureau showing a dramatic spike of 4.3 million in the number of Americans without health insurance in 2009 – to a record 50.7 million – underscore the urgency of going beyond the Obama administration’s new health law and swiftly implementing a single-payer, improved Medicare-for-all program, according to…