SPEND HEALTHCARE DOLLARS

ON HEALTHCARE!

 

NOT ON INSURANCE COMPANIES.

 

SUPPORT

H.R. 676

the bill in Congress to provide universal, single-payer healthcare for

EVERYONE!

 

Western Pennsylvania Coalition for Single Payer Healthcare,

a local, all-volunteer citizens group working to support H.R. 676, “Expanded and Improved Medicare for All”

www.WPaSinglePayer.org

-DETAILS ON BACK-

 

 

A BRIEF SUMMARY OF

H.R. 676-U.S. National Health Insurance Act

Introduced by John Conyers, Jr., (D-MI) with 93 co-sponsors (as of 10/19/08)

 

Establishes a publicly financed, privately delivered national health insurance program by expanding and improving Medicare for all U.S. residents.  In this “single payer” system the government, instead of multiple insurance companies and you, pays the health care bills.  The providers remain private and we choose who to go to.

 

With 46 million uninsured and more than that underinsured, it is time to change our inefficient, costly, and fragmented health care system.

 

According to 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 by 1) reducing the administrative costs of private insurance from 20-30% to 3% under Medicare, 2) eliminating the insurance profit margin, and 3) negotiating for lower drug prices.

 

We would move away from our present system, where the average annual family premium has increased to $12,680 /year.  Under H.R. 676, a family of three making $40,000/year would spend approximately $1900/year or $150/month in 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 while protecting the 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. 

 

Proposed Funding: A modest payroll tax on all employees of 3.3% and employers of 4.5%, in addition to the l.45% Medicare payroll tax that employers/ees are already 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 cut for the highest 1% of income earners.