Medicare for All: Separating Fact from Fiction
Big Pharma and the medical insurance companies are publishing false and misleading propaganda to prevent serious consideration of single-payer healthcare. But healthcare is unaffordable for too many New Yorkers, and here in the Bronx we have the worst health outcomes of all the counties in New York State – 62nd out of 62. We need to inform ourselves and fight back – and there are several opportunities for us to do so:
- On Monday, November 18, join a Postcard Party to write to Democratic voters in the Bronx urging them to vote for representatives who support single payer. There will be cheese, wine and snacks. For time and location contact Helen Krim at 347-275-5472 or helen.krim@gmail.com.
- Join the #not62 rally at City Hall on Tuesday, December 3, 12:30 – 1:30 pm. This is a rally specifically highlighting the poor health outcomes in the Bronx and the related questions of racial justice. The Bronx Health REACH, an organization in the south Bronx advocating for more resources for healthcare, has been trying to get a meeting with the Mayor since April 2018 and he has always refused; this is a rally to get him to pay attention to the South Bronx and the poor health outcomes there. People all over the Bronx are suffering now, and we need to support this effort.
- On Saturday, December 7 at 1 pm, attend a forum on the Myths About Single Payer at Manhattan College’s Hayden Hall, 4513 Manhattan College Parkway, Room 203. Free parking is available in the Manhattan College lot. Dr. Elizabeth Rosenthal of Physicians for a National Health Program and State Senator Gustavo Rivera will be there to debunk the fear-mongering myths the medical industry is pushing. Prepare yourself to answer questions and advocate effectively.
5% of New Yorkers have no health insurance; and nearly 10 million New Yorkers who do have insurance are one medical catastrophe away from financial jeopardy, or even ruin. In fact, 65% of bankruptcies are the result of medical debt. Meanwhile, the rates of asthma, diabetes and maternal mortality in the Bronx are off the charts.
It’s time to fight back with grassroots power. The New York Health Act will provide immediate help both to those who are uninsured and those who are underinsured. It will also improve health outcomes and save money for everyone else — because, like Original Medicare (which is also single payer), it will cost less than the current system.
Insurance companies spend 30% of every dollar collected on administration, advertising and lobbyists – $1.6 million a day. There are six healthcare industry lobbyists for every congressman. Think how much could be accomplished if there were an increase of 30% spent on actual healthcare!