Western PA Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare

Working for passage of the "United States National Health Insurance Act", also known as,

the "Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act" (H.R. 676)

	BRIEF SUMMARY—H.R. 676— U.S. National Health Insurance Act Introduced by John Conyers, Jr., (D-Michigan) with 90 co-sponsors (as of 5/30/08) Establishes an American-styled national health insurance program that would create a *publicly financed, privately delivered* health care program that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it for all U.S. residents. This legislation is an example of a “single-payer” system, referring to the government, instead of multiple insurance companies and you, paying the health care bills. The providers remain private and we choose who to go to. With 47 million uninsured and more than that underinsured, it is time to change our inefficient, costly, and fragmented health care system. An increasing number of Americans are paying more out-of-pocket or neglecting their health. According to Dean Baker of the Center for Economic Research and Policy, HR 676 would save $387 billion annually in overall health care spending while covering all of the uninsured. Administrative costs would be reduced from 20-30% under the current insurance company system, to 3%, under Medicare. The profit margin in paying for health care costs would be eliminated. The government would negotiate for lower drug prices from the pharmaceutical companies, further lowering costs. We would move away from our present system, where the average annual family premium has increased to $12,106/year. Under H.R. 676, a family of three making $40,000/year would spend approximately $1320/year or $110/month in additional taxes for excellent health care coverage, with no copays, deductibles, or monthly premiums. Under H.R. 676, employers currently providing health care benefits to their employees would pay much less in taxes for better coverage, making American businesses more competitive with foreign markets that have universal health care, while protecting the health and well-being of their employees. Health Care Services Covered Office visits, hospitalizations, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care, mental health services, drug and alcohol treatment, dentistry, eye care, hearing aids, chiropractic services. Proposed Funding A modest payroll tax on all employees of 3.3% and employers 4.5%, in addition to the l.45% Medicare payroll tax that both are currently paying. A 5% health tax on the top 5% of income earners; 10% tax on richest 1%. A small tax (one quarter of one percent) on stock and bond transfers. Closing corporate tax loopholes, and repealing the Bush tax cuts which provided unwarranted windfalls to large corporations and the richest 1% of taxpayers. For more information: Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare www.WPaSinglePayer.org Healthcare-NOW (www.healthcare-now.org) Contacts: Sandy Fox (412) 421-8233 or sm2fox@yahoo.com Ed Grystar (412) 370-9460 or egrystar@aol.com BACK TO HOME PAGE

BRIEF SUMMARY—H.R. 676—
U.S. National Health Insurance Act
Introduced by John Conyers, Jr., (D-Michigan) with 90 co-sponsors (as of 5/30/08)

Establishes an American-styled national health insurance program that would create a publicly financed, privately delivered health care program that uses the already existing Medicare program by expanding and improving it for all U.S. residents. This legislation is an example of a “single-payer” system, referring to the government, instead of multiple insurance companies and you, paying the health care bills. The providers remain private and we choose who to go to.

With 47 million uninsured and more than that underinsured, it is time to change our inefficient, costly, and fragmented health care system. An increasing number of Americans are paying more out-of-pocket or neglecting their health.

According to Dean Baker of the Center for Economic Research and Policy, HR 676 would save $387 billion annually in overall health care spending while covering all of the uninsured. Administrative costs would be reduced from 20-30% under the current insurance company system, to 3%, under Medicare. The profit margin in paying for health care costs would be eliminated. The government would negotiate for lower drug prices from the pharmaceutical companies, further lowering costs.

We would move away from our present system, where the average annual family premium has increased to $12,106/year.

Under H.R. 676, a family of three making $40,000/year would spend approximately $1320/year or $110/month in additional taxes for excellent health care coverage, with no copays, deductibles, or monthly premiums.

Under H.R. 676, employers currently providing health care benefits to their employees would pay much less in taxes for better coverage, making American businesses more competitive with foreign markets that have universal health care, while protecting the health and well-being of their employees.

Health Care Services Covered

Office visits, hospitalizations, emergency care, prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long term care, mental health services, drug and alcohol treatment, dentistry, eye care, hearing aids, chiropractic services.

Proposed Funding

A modest payroll tax on all employees of 3.3% and employers 4.5%, in addition to the l.45% Medicare payroll tax that both are currently paying. A 5% health tax on the top 5% of income earners; 10% tax on richest 1%. A small tax (one quarter of one percent) on stock and bond transfers. Closing corporate tax loopholes, and repealing the Bush tax cuts which provided unwarranted windfalls to large corporations and the richest 1% of taxpayers.

For more information:
Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Single-Payer Healthcare www.WPaSinglePayer.org
Healthcare-NOW (www.healthcare-now.org)
Contacts: Sandy Fox (412) 421-8233 or sm2fox@yahoo.com
Ed Grystar (412) 370-9460 or egrystar@aol.com

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