The following testimony was delivered to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on Tuesday, June 11, 2019 in support of H.1194/S.683 

In December 2015, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer that had spread to my lymph nodes. Before I even had a treatment plan, and was in still shock at hearing my diagnosis, I met with the Financial Office to find out what my coinsurance and cap was for my out-of-pocket payments. This insurance-centric reality followed every step of my treatment plan.  

Cancer taught me to live every day and be grateful but it taught me other things as well.  Catastrophically ill patients and those with chronic illnesses often lose their life savings to the current medical system. The wicked good Cadillac health insurance I had from my ex-husband did not cover the whole thing. I was expected to pay 10% as coinsurance. Some plans call for the patient to pay 30% of the costs of their treatment.  For 2019 the capped amount is $7,900 for an individual and $15,800 for a family. This amount is before copays, medications, and many other needed procedures that patients carry the bill for in their treatment. I found out very quickly that people go bankrupt because they get sick. Many lose their house after 4 or 5 years as they can never make up for lost income and what they had to pay into the system.

The following testimony was delivered to the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing on Tuesday, June 11, 2019.

Chairwoman Friedman, Chairwoman Benson, and members of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing:

Thank you for holding this hearing today. My name is Jonathan Cohn, and I am the chair of the Issues Committee of Progressive Massachusetts. Progressive Massachusetts is a statewide grassroots advocacy organization devoted to shared prosperity, racial and social justice, good government and strong democracy, and environmental protection and sustainable infrastructure.

Medicare for All is a quintessential part of shared prosperity, and we are proud to support S.683 / H.1194: An Act establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts has a storied role in the history of the fight for universal health care in the US. Our former senator Ted Kennedy was a longtime champion of single payer, and our 2006 health care reform law was a model for the Affordable Care Act nationally.

While Republicans in DC have been attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, many progressives have been wondering what work can be done here in Massachusetts. We have stalwart progressive senators like Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, and a fully Democratic House delegation. And many of you have stepped up to the plate, calling people in other states to urge them to take action.

For now, activists have stalled the ACA repeal bill. But here in Massachusetts, our Republican governor Charlie Baker is pushing the Republicans’ anti-health care agenda.

Late last month, Baker submitted a list of health care proposals he wanted to see rolled into the budget without any public hearing or debate. That budget is being unveiled later this morning and voted on only hours later. Legislators need to hear from us NOW so they know what to look out for.

H.2987 / S619: An Act establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts 

Establishes a single payer system, in which the state provides health care to all residents as a right.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO PLAY DEFENSE

Activists in Massachusetts and around the country continue the work of preserving the Affordable Care Act. However, defending Obamacare from irresponsible raids by the GOP doesn't address the shortcomings of the still historic health care law. Medical care is still unaffordable for many, and we still pay more than any other nation for medical care - with worse results!

TIME FOR BLUE STATES TO LEAD: PASS SINGLE PAYER IN MASSACHUSETTS

We will keep saying it: the best way to fight the appalling, dangerous Republican agenda (and it's not just Trump!) is to advance positive, progressive alternatives in the blue states. Not only to protect people from losing more under their immoral agenda, but also to provide a model for the rest of the nation to follow. 

OUR DEMOCRATIC MASSACHUSETTS LEGISLATURE CAN PASS "SINGLE PAYER", RIGHT HERE

But, conventional, conservative thinking is still the status quo under the Golden Dome. This kind of bold progressive action is what our dangerous political times call for--and it is everyday citizens that have to make that happen. 

Check the list below. If your State Rep and State Senator have not cosponsored the "Medicare for All" bill, give them a call, and say, "This is important. THIS is fighting Trump. Will you be a leader in this fight, and advocate to Leadership to bring H2987/S619 to the floor?"

If they have cosponsored, call up and say, "I want to thank my legislator for cosponsoring Medicare for All, H2987/S619, and I urge her/him to push for it to come to a vote on the floor." 

Check the list below for your Rep and Senator, send the message today with a call or email, and better yet, organize your community to do the same! (want to join a chapter or start one? check here: progressivemass.com/chapters)

This essay originally appeared in Boston Globe South  - March 21, 2015. 

Should Massachusetts adopt a single-payer healthcare system? 

Yes

By Ben Wright, director of Progressive Massachusetts. Ben has worked on electoral and issue campaigns on the South Shore, including, updating the bottle bill and raising the minimum wage.

Massachusetts should adopt a single payer health care system to improve individual health outcomes, expand care to everyone, and reduce costs for both individuals and the government.

In 2012, per capita health care spending was $8,233, more than 2.5 times higher than most developed nations. However, we have proportionately fewer physicians and hospital beds, and our life expectancy increases since 1960 are below those of other developed nations, according to a PBS news report.

We have a huge spending problem, and single payer is the simplest solution. With so many other priorities – including education, transportation and infrastructure -- we should be implementing solutions that will reduce costs to society and improve care.

This summer, we're highlighting features of our Shared Prosperity Agenda. Our members are sharing their perspectives on Education, Healthcare, Housing, Jobs and Wages, and Progressive Revenue. In our second installment, we focus on Health Care.

Quality, affordable health care is a human right. And a single-payer system has been shown time and again to be the most effective at reducing costs and improving outcomes.

Unfortunately, multi-billion dollar insurance companies profit too much from our poor health, and it is going to take a powerful grassroots movement to overcome the influence of their armies of lobbyists and cash on Beacon Hill.

The good news is that we have a plan to get to single-payer in five years, and it begins with a public option. We believe that when people experience first-hand a simplified health care system, they will like what they see.

We are committing to a Shared Prosperity Agenda and we have set the following goals for Health Care:

• Within five years, we want a single payer system, similar to Medicare for All
• A good first step would be a public option which enables any resident to pay into an enhanced MassHealth system

See our full statement of Health Care Values here. 

Sign on below to support quality, affordable health care covering all medically necessary treatment. 

Today, on a 24-15 vote, the MA Senate failed to pass the “single-payer” amendment (#125) introduced by Sen. Eldridge to s.2060.

As progressives, we understand that the fight for single-payer is a long one. We can be heartened today, however, that 15 Senators stood strong and stood up for single-payer health care. 

We must support progressives when they take a step outside the expected. Please send an email or make a call of THANKS to these Senators for their principled stand on progressive health care reform!

• Brownsberger, William  (D) 617-722-1280, William.Brownsberger@masenate.gov
• Chang-Diaz, Sonia  (D) 617-722-1673, Sonia.Chang-Diaz@masenate.gov
• Clark, Katherine  (D) 617-722-1206, Katherine.Clark@masenate.gov
• Creem, Cynthia ,  (D) 617-722-1639, Cynthia.Creem@masenate.gov
• DiDomenico, Sal , (D) 617-722-1650, Sal.DiDomenico@masenate.gov
• Donnelly, Kenneth  (D) 617-722-1432, Kenneth.Donnelly@masenate.gov
• Downing, Benjamin (D) 617-722-1625 Benjamin.Downing@masenate.gov
• Eldridge, James ,  (D) 617-722-1120, James.Eldridge@masenate.gov
• Fargo, Susan  (D) 617-722-1572  Susan.Fargo@masenate.gov
• Jehlen, Patricia  (D) 617-722-1578 Patricia.Jehlen@masenate.gov
• McGee, Thomas  (D) 617-722-1350 Thomas.McGee@masenate.gov
• Montigny, Mark  (D) 617-722-1440 Mark.Montigny@masenate.gov
• Pacheco, Marc   (D) 617-722-1551 Marc.Pacheco@masenate.gov
• Rosenberg, Stanley  (D) 617-722-1532  Stan.Rosenberg@masenate.gov
• Wolf, Daniel  (D) 617-722-1570   Daniel.Wolf@masenate.gov

Don’t see your Senator? How about a note expressing your wish that s/he stand up for progressive health care reform next time?

Don’t worry if you couldn’t make your Single-Payer call before 5PM today. You can still call your Senator and leave your message on her/his voicemail!

Calls in the morning (Tue.) will work, too. But why not go ahead and call now?

Amplify our people-power–urge your networks to make their calls, too!

WATCH THIS SPACE for any updates to the vote. If it is delayed beyond tomorrow, that gives all the more time to put the grassroots pressure on!

Health Care Reform is one of the top priorities of Progressive Mass member-activists.

TOMORROW/Tuesday–single-payer health care is on the table in the Massachusetts Legislature–as an Amendment, submitted by Sen. Eldridge, to s.2260 (An Act improving the quality of health care and reducing costs through increased transparency, efficiency and innovation).

Your Senator needs to hear from you TODAY! It takes less than 5 minutes!

Read our summary of Sen. Eldridge’s Amendment to s.2260, calling for single-payer reform.

Call (or email) your State Senator: progma.us/maleg