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Healing Our Broken Healthcare System. Why nurses support a single-payer plan. Healthcare system is broken. 47 million are uninsured Many more are underinsured U.S. healthcare costs are highest in the world, but we rank 37 th in overall health - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Healing Our BrokenHealthcare System
Why nurses support a single-payer plan
Healthcare system is broken
47 million are uninsured Many more are underinsured U.S. healthcare costs are highest in the
world, but we rank 37th in overall health Half of the personal bankruptcies filed each
year are due to medical expenses: 75% had health insurance at the onset of their illness.
Private insurers make profits
Profits of $15 billion in 2006 Up 1,084% over a period of
5 years! Average health insurance
company CEO made $8.36 million in 2006
Why should nurses care?
Nurses spend the most time with patients
Nurses see first-hand the impact of on patients without adequate insurance
Nurses see the waste of multiple, for-profit healthcare insurers
NYSNA for reform in 1917
Coverage needed for the poor
Public health nurses witnessed impact of poverty
Concern about immigrants
Mobilization for reform
NYSNA resolution passed in 1989
Albany rally in 1990
“New York Health” campaign, 1992
Clinton Reform Plan, 1994
NYSNA president spoke at the White House
Plan died in Congress after insurance industry campaign
NYSNA continued to fight
Supported reform organizations Delivered testimony Founded coalitions, including
Rekindling Reform and Metro New York Health Care for All
Conducted educational workshops Endorsed HR676, national
single-payer plan
Everyone agrees reform is needed Most proposals combine public and
private insurance The government will do something –
nurses can choose whether to influence that…or not
Today, reform is coming
Cover everyone Be accessible to everyone Provide comprehensive care,
from cradle to grave Be affordable to all
Our healthcare system should…
What will accomplish this?
NYSNA believes that the solution to our current health care crisis is a national, single-payer healthcare plan
NYSNA supports H.R. 676 “The United States National Health Insurance Act.”
NYSNA also supports incremental steps toward a national single-payer plan.
Benefits of single-payer plan
One payer greatly reduces administrative costs and profit motive from health coverage
Comprehensive coverage for all medically necessary services
Free choice of providers Healthcare providers free from corporate
dictates over patient care. Employers free from the cost of providing
health benefits.
Financing a single-payer plan
Current funding for Medicare/Medicaid Modest increase in individual income tax
Offset by savings in premiums, deductibles, co-pays
Increase in employer payroll tax Offset by savings in payments for
employee coverage Other major savings throughout the system
in administrative costs.
Taxes offset by savings
A modest increase in individual taxes would be offset by no longer paying for premiums, co-pays, deductibles.
An increase in employer payroll tax would be offset by no longer paying for employees’ coverage.
Interim/incremental steps
Expand coverage/access while working toward a single-payer system
Examples include: Expand existing public programs (Medicare,
Medicaid, SCHIP, Child Health Plus) Simplify enrollment process Protect safety-net facilities/providers
Defend and keep what we’ve got!
Speaking with one voice
Professional associations, consumer groups, business groups, labor unions can all agree on this issue.
Nurses should be prominent in the discussion
Working with coalitions
Healthcare-Now Capital District Alliance
for Universal Healthcare
Labor Campaign for Single-Payer Healthcare
Metro New York Health Care for All
New York Universal Health Care Options Campaign
Rekindling Reform Healthcare for All New
York Leadership Conference
for Guaranteed Healthcare
How to get involved
Stay informed at www.nysna.org Participate in rallies, marches Lobby your legislators Share information with colleagues,
friends, and family