Health Insurers Have Had Their Chance

By Wendell Potter for Huffington Post – Of the many supporters of a single-payer health care system in the United States, some of the most ardent are small business owners who have struggled to continue offering coverage to their workers. Among them are David Steil, a small business owner and former Republican — yes, Republican…

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Single Payer in California?

By Truthout – The national debate over health care can be summed up in a bill being debated in Sacramento. Supporters of Senate Bill 810 say the legislation would be the only way to provide medical coverage for every Californian. Opponents deride the measure as socialized medicine. The California Universal Healthcare Act was introduced by…

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America’s Healthcare Crisis is Getting Worse

By Roger Bybee for In These Times – “I don’t think the American people want shared sacrifice. I think that they want shared prosperity.”—John Watson of Chevron, testifying this month against a proposed $2 billion cut in oil-companies’ annual tax breaks in a year when they are on track to make $100 billion in profits…

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Healthcare Costs Per Family More Than Doubled In Nine Years

From the Huffington Post – U.S. healthcare is so expensive that records are broken even when cost increases slow. According to a new report by Milliman, a global consulting and actuarial firm, the total cost of healthcare for the average family of four, if covered by a preferred provider organization, is now a record $19,393.…

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Corporations, Federal ‘Reform’ Keep Shifting Healthcare Costs to Workers

By Roger Bybee for In These Times – Despite its $14.2 billion in profits last year untouched by federal income taxes, General Electric is now demanding that its unionized workers accept a new high-deductible “Health Choice” health savings account plan. GE’s demands are particularly obscene because it is sitting on $25 billion in savings and…

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Artists Take Stage for Single-Payer Health Care in Minnesota

From theuptake.org – To educate Minnesotans about the need for single-payer health care, the Minnesota Universal Health Care Coalition (MUHCC) held the “Artists on Stage for Health Care” at Saint Paul’s Park Square Theatre in the historic Hamm Building. The event featured local artists, singing, drawing and dancing, to broadcast the same message: the current…

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America Needs a Single Payer Health Care System

Even if Obama’s overhaul works as planned, there will still be 23 million Americans lacking health insurance in 2019. By Kay Tillow for OtherWorlds.org – More than a year after President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, our nation’s health care delivery and coverage remain the disgrace of the…

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Quarter-Million Dead and Not Counting

By Donna Smith – After this past weekend of horrific storms and tornadoes, it was clearly appropriate for our elected officials to declare a federal disaster in some areas. With the designation comes some federal money and help for the storm-ravaged areas and residents. Few would quarrel with our government stepping up and stepping in…

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Ryan Turns Knife on Medicare, Medicaid

By Margaret Flowers – Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the Republican chairman of the U.S. House Budget Committee, unveiled two proposals this week which if enacted would constitute a mortal threat to our nation’s health – particularly to the health of our seniors and our most vulnerable populations. The first proposal, Senate Joint Resolution 10,…

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Riding the Wave

Why the HIV community (and everybody else) should support single-payer health care. By Sue Saltmarsh for Positively Aware – As a peer-led agency, the Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN) has always been staffed by many HIV-positive people, as well as others who have diabetes, heart problems, sleep disorders, cancer, and a variety of other ills…

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