Opinion: Universal Health Care Now!

Is it money? Inertia? Lack of political will? Is it corporate domination?

All of these are impediments to changing our degraded, torturous healthcare system, but the underlying dysfunction has more to do with our national perception of who should have health care and why. Until we see a fundamental change that accepts health care as a universal human right, change will be slow, if not impossible.

How can we make that change? We know that other advanced industrialized democracies with universal health care spend less on medical care, focus on preventive care and have overall better health outcomes. Why? Because they have non-profit universal coverage and equal access to healthcare services for all their residents. They know that national strength and stability depend on the common good of optimum health for everyone.

In the United States, the wealthiest 1% accumulate billions of dollars and receive tax breaks at the expense of health care for the rest of us. While the seven largest health insurance companies scoop up some $64 billion/year in profits, premiums and deductibles rise for the “insureds” and millions of Americans go without health insurance.

As the effects of H.R.1 (the “Big Beautiful Bill”) begin to manifest, everyday Americans will face doubling or more of their healthcare premiums, which line corporate pockets. It is estimated that a family of four will have to pay $30,000/year in premiums for coverage that will include enormous deductibles out-of-pocket before a dime of insurance coverage.

It’s easy to see the correlation with increased bankruptcy, homelessness, morbidity and mortality. Until we elect people who are ready to fight for our health and wellbeing, we must surely depend on ourselves to speak out and demand that our nation recognize its original mandate to protect its own citizens.

Tell your story. Write to media. Call talk shows. Show up at rallies and town halls with signs and handouts. Massive protest is effective. Bills in the U.S. House of Representatives (H.R. 3069) and Senate (S. 1056) call for universal health care. Demand that our representatives support them. Here in California, a revised CalCare (AB 1900), a single-payer, universal health care bill, is before the Legislature.

Let’s demand the Legislature get on board. Support these efforts locally by contacting Health Care for All Humboldt (healthcareforallhumboldt @gmail.com) or visit healthcareforall. org and Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP.org).

Patty Harvey lives in Willow Creek.