May 17, 2023 Dear colleague, The new Medicare for All Act is here! The bills have been introduced in the House by Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Debbie Dingell, and in the Senate by Senator Bernie Sanders. Thanks to the efforts of single-payer activists like you, we have 112 original cosponsors in the House and 14 original cosponsors in the Senate. Medicare for All has clearly come a long way since its first introduction, and we're not finished yet. You can find a wealth of information on the bills HERE, including summaries and full text of the proposals. This page also has suggestions for ways you can contribute to the fight to pass this legislation, including: - Contact your Representatives and Senators using the message form which can be found HERE, or call the Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121. Demand that they sign on to these bills to ensure that their constituents can freely access the care that they deserve.
- Schedule an in-person meeting with your representative and with each of your senators—or with a health policy staffer at their district office; this is a crucial part of building relationships with your legislators.
- Write an op-ed or letter to the editor supporting the Medicare for All Act. Feel free to reach out to our Communications Specialist at gau...@pnhp.org for assistance with writing.
Here are some examples of messages you can deliver to your Congressperson: - Supporters of previous single-payer legislation: “Please continue your support for Medicare for All by signing on to this new bill, which would ensure that everybody in this country has access to free and comprehensive health care.”
- Democrats who have not supported single-payer legislation: “Our current system is broken, and half-measures will not fix it. We can’t continue to rely on private insurance—only improved Medicare for All will provide the lifetime care and financial protection that your constituents need.”
- Republicans: “Medicare for All is simple, prudent, and proudly American (and supported by a steadily growing number of Republican voters).”
| If your federal legislator(s) are newly elected to Congress, let them know that these bills represent the only true solution to our health care crisis and that you—their constituent—expect nothing less. | | We are closer than we have ever been to achieving true single-payer reform, but we can only do it if all of us raise our voices and speak as one. Let's make it happen! In solidarity, |
