Medicare for All

This September, a study released by Marsh (formerly Mercer) reached a dire projection: a return to double-digit premium increases for American health insurance in 2027. Premiums will rise 11 percent on a like-for-like basis, though that reduces to “only” eight percent once taking into account intended reduction in plan quality through higher out-of-pocket costs. This is the highest rate of increase since 2003, and the fourth consecutive year of escalating health insurance premiums.

An August poll found that support for Medicare for All has risen significantly in the past year, from 54 to 60 percent. Among voters who have significant medical debt ($1,000 or more) or who have been denied treatment by their insurance company, that support rises to 68 and 71 percent respectively. A whopping 75 percent of voters under the age of 30 support Medicare for All.

Retired UE General President Carl Rosen and Staff Coordinator John Thompson represented UE at a high-level Medicare for All strategy meeting at the end of August. Hosted by close UE ally National Nurses United, the strategy meeting mapped out ambitious but realistic plans to win Medicare for All in the coming years. The meeting included labor unions, health care justice organizations, and working-class community organizations that have Medicare for All as a significant part of their work.

Abdul El-Sayed, who made Medicare for All the centerpiece of his campaign, won the Democratic primary for one of Michigan’s U.S. Senate seats on August 4. The former public health official was endorsed by the United Auto Workers, National Nurses United, the Association of Flight Attendants, and the American Federation of Teachers-Michigan.

A coalition of over 325 unions and other organizations, including UE, has released a letter warning against letting “skeptical health care policy wonks” keep working people from demanding “the boldest possible reform” of our healthcare system, Medicare for All.

Our broken health care system is getting worse by the day. With recent cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, 17 million more people could lose their health care this year. This is on top of 26 million people who are already uninsured. Employers continue to demand that workers pay ever higher shares of the cost of insurance, while insurance company profits continue to rise.

On Wednesday, June 18, join the Labor Campaign for Single Payer for a webinar about how the labor movement can Reclaim Medicare from corporate greed. LCSP has developed a white paper summarizing what union leaders need to know about Medicare Advantage, including a list of questions to ask at the bargaining table regarding Medicare Advantage plans. While the webinar will focus on the devastating impacts Medicare Advantage has on union workers and retirees, all are invited to attend.

On Wednesday, May 17, legislation to create a universal, “Medicare for All” healthcare system — a UE demand since the 1940s — was reintroduced in both the House and Senate. The House bill was introduced with a record number of co-sponsors, including the majority of the Democratic caucus and 13 powerful legislators who are the highest-ranking Democrats in their committees.