What is National Nurses United’s position on Medicare for all?
National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union of registered nurses which represents over 150,000 health care professionals, has come out in strong support of the proposed Medicare for All Act. When it was first introduced, Bonnie Castillo, CEO of NNU, said that it would save patients lives.
Is it time for Medicare for all?
Medicare has provided guaranteed health care for millions of seniors for more than 51 years. It’s time we have a Medicare for all, single-payer health care system that would end health disparities, effectively control costs, and assure that everyone has equal access to an excellent standard of care.
Do we need Medicare for all?
Everybody In We need a single-payer, national health care system which guarantees care for all regardless of their ability to pay. Seventy percent of people in this country support Medicare for All. Medicare for All can only be achieved through a broad based grassroots campaign.
What is Medicare for all and how does it work?
Medicare for All pays for all covered health care services and therefore has the power to eliminate waste and control all of the costs. Nearly all individuals and businesses would save on health care with no more copays, deductibles, or surprise medical bills.
Is Medicare for All universal healthcare?
In the U.S., Medicare and the VA system are both examples of single-payer health coverage, as they're funded by the federal government. But the U.S. does not have universal coverage, nor does it have a single-payer system available to all residents.
What are the benefits of Medicare for All?
Arguments in Favor of Medicare for All It would reduce out-of-pocket spending for individuals. Through regulation and negotiation, the government could control the price of drugs and medical services. Americans could switch jobs without losing their existing plan or health care coverage.
What bill is Medicare for All?
Implemented over a four-year period, the Medicare for All Act of 2022 establishes a federally administered national health insurance program that would ensure quality and comprehensive health care to all.
How would Medicare for All affect nurses?
The Truth of What Medicare for All Means for You: Under Medicare for All, “the number of registered nurse graduates will decline by more than 25% and the entire nurse workforce will shrink by 1.2 million registered nurses by 2050 relative to current projections,” according to the issue brief.
What are the disadvantages of Medicare for All?
Cons of Medicare for All:Providers can choose only private pay options unless mandated differently.Doesn't solve the shortage of doctors.Health insurance costs may not disappear.Requires a tax increase.Shifts costs of employer coverage.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of Medicare for All?
Though Medicare for All would likely lower the healthcare costs in the economy overall and increase quality care while also facilitating more preventative care to avoid expensive emergency room visits, you could end up paying more if you make more than $250,000 a year or are in the top 0.1 % of households.
What are the 4 types of Medicare?
There are four parts of Medicare: Part A, Part B, Part C, and Part D.Part A provides inpatient/hospital coverage.Part B provides outpatient/medical coverage.Part C offers an alternate way to receive your Medicare benefits (see below for more information).Part D provides prescription drug coverage.
Who proposed the Medicare for All bill?
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Debbie Dingell (MI-12) introduced the Medicare for All Act of 2021, transformative legislation that would guarantee health care to everyone in America as a human right at a moment in which nearly 100 million people are uninsured or underinsured during ...
How many Americans have no health insurance?
31.6 millionUninsured people In 2020, 31.6 million (9.7%) people of all ages were uninsured at the time of the interview (Table 1). This includes 31.2 million (11.5%) people under age 65. Among children, 3.7 million (5.0%) were uninsured, and among working- age adults, 27.5 million (13.9%) were uninsured (Figure 1).
Why do nurses support single-payer?
But nurses may also have pragmatic reasons for backing single-payer healthcare. As an NNU organizer told GQ in 2019, hospitals often try to cut costs by reducing nursing salaries and shifts; the union believes that under Medicare for All, more money would flow to nurses.
Should the US have free healthcare?
Most agree that if we had universal healthcare in America, we could save lives. A study from Harvard researchers states that not having healthcare causes around 44,789 deaths per year. 44,789 deaths per year means that there is a 40% increased risk of death for people who are uninsured.
Is free healthcare good?
Providing all citizens the right to health care is good for economic productivity. When people have access to health care, they live healthier lives and miss work less, allowing them to contribute more to the economy.
When will nurses meet with lawmakers?
Hundreds of registered nurses from across the country will meet virtually with federal lawmakers on May 4-10 to urge them to step up measures to improve protections for hospital patients and nurses and other health care workers across the country.
What is the National Nurse magazine?
National Nurse magazine not only covers the activities of National Nurses United but also strives to produce hard-hitting news features and thoughtful analyses about nursing and the real ills plaguing the U.S. healthcare system. You'll find true stories from the front lines of care given by the nation's 2.5 million registered nurses, as well as articles about nursing practice, public health, healthcare policy, and the healthcare industry. Through our reporting, we hope to inspire a movement toward a humane and just healthcare system for all. The magazine is published 10 times per year by NNU, with combined issues in summer and winter. (Online Publication ISSN# 2153-0394) Download »
Why do nurses support Medicare for All?
The Act addresses the challenges of the increasingly for-profit health care system, and estimates are that it will bring about huge cost-savings.
Who is the President of NNU?
Jean Ross , President of NNU, was invited to give expert testimony in support of the Act during the legislative hearing, entitled “Proposals to achieve universal health coverage”, which was held by the Subcommittee on Health of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. ADVERTISEMENTS. .
What is the Medicare for All Act?
The Act aims to establish a national health insurance program that will improve on the current Affordable Care Act, which has provided for neither better quality care nor reduced costs.
How can nurses support legislation?
Nurses can support this legislation by joining allied public and professional organizations; discussing it with colleagues, friends; highlighting it on public platforms and in social media; and lobbying their local political representatives.
What does union mean in Medicare for All?
Unions represent 1 in 10 U.S. workers, making it one of the largest institutions nationwide. So what does that mean for “Medicare for All,” a policy that moves everyone into one public plan with no premiums or deductibles? Everyone agrees universal health care coverage is the goal, but not everyone agrees Medicare for All is ...
Who is the largest nurse union?
The largest union for registered nurses, National Nurses United (NNU) — with its more than 150,000 members nationwide — has been leading the campaign for Medicare for All, and praised legislation put forward by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
Why do unions spend more money?
There’s more money for unions to play with if health care costs aren’t on the table. Unions can also dedicate more time and energy on other items like workplace safety, reasonable and predictable hours, diversity issues, and wages increases — perhaps even fight back for deferrals of wage increases in the past.
Is the Coalition of Labor Union Women married to Medicare?
The Coalition of Labor Union Women and several state federations of the AFL-CIO, the nation’s largest labor federation, and AFL-CIO central labor councils are also on the list. But at least three of the most influential unions NNU named aren’t actually married to Medicare for All: Service Employees International Union (SEIU), ...
RNs are organizing an unprecedented, grassroots movement to back the new legislation
National Nurses United (NNU) announced its strong support for the new Medicare for All Act of 2019, introduced today by Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), with backing from more than 100 members of Congress.
Medicare for All Act of 2019 highlights include
The most comprehensive list of services covered, of any bill to date —including primary care, hospital care, women’s reproductive health services, dental, vision, mental health, substance abuse treatment, prescription drugs, long term service and supports, the cost of transportation for disabled and low-income patients, and more.
Is Medicare a single payer?
For these reasons the time is now to create a universal, single-payer, Medicare for All health care system in the United States. Public financing for health is not a matter of raising new money for healthcare, but of reducing total healthcare outlays and distributing payments more equitably and efficiently. Implementing a unified single-payer ...
Is health care a public good?
Health care is not a service that follows standard market rules. It should therefore be provided as a public good. Evidence from around the world demonstrates that publicly financed health care systems result in improved health outcomes, lower costs, and greater equity.
How can Medicare for All be achieved?
Medicare for All can only be achieved through a broad based grassroots campaign. Join us to replace this broken profit driven system with a health care system that serves us all.
How long has Medicare provided health care for seniors?
Medicare has provided guaranteed health care for millions of seniors for more than 51 years.