By: Daniel Nardini
There is a bill before the Illinois House of Representatives that will greatly solve the current healthcare crises in this state—House Bill (HB) 311. Also known as the Health Care for All Illinois Act, the bill will insure everyone in the state and it will not cost anyone more taxes.
One can ask how is this all possible? First, the bill will take all of the $17 billion being directed at paperwork costs and administrative costs and redirect it towards creating a single payer system whereby everyone can have state affordable health care coverage. In other words all of the money that is being used now for bureaucratic paper waste and benefiting private insurance companies would go to insuring all of Illinois residents directly.
If passed HB 311 would do three things. First, it will make healthcare coverage universal for all Illinois residents. Second, it would lower the costs overall for Illinois residents trying to afford prescription medicines and doctor visits. A single payer system will mean that the system and not different private companies or private hospitals will be able to negotiate the prices of prescription medications. Finally, by providing coverage for all and bringing down the costs of medications and medical care the system would be self-sustaining and spread the care for all individuals evenly (much like car insurance does now).
The private healthcare companies are of course opposed to it. It will mean that there will be no more providing health insurance at exorbitant rates. This will mean that there will be no more insuring only individuals who are healthy and wealthy and not insuring those who need insurance the most. It will also mean that all individuals—regardless of income—will be insured and therefore safe from serious financial burdens if they become sick or injured. There are now an estimated 1.7 million Illinois residents without any form of health insurance coverage. As private healthcare coverage becomes more costly, more small and medium-sized businesses will be dropping what private health insurance they have. This in turn will only add to the number who are uninsured and will be an additional burden to the whole state medical system.
Under the circumstances prevailing, a single payer insurance system makes sense and may be the only way that Illinois will be able to not only help all Illinois residents but also provide all state residents with healthcare when they need it. Tell your state representative to vote for HB 311. For more information, go to the website www.healthcareil.org.
Support Health Care for All Illinois!
By: Daniel Nardini
There is a bill before the Illinois House of Representatives that will greatly solve the current healthcare crises in this state—House Bill (HB) 311. Also known as the Health Care for All Illinois Act, the bill will insure everyone in the state and it will not cost anyone more taxes.
One can ask how is this all possible? First, the bill will take all of the $17 billion being directed at paperwork costs and administrative costs and redirect it towards creating a single payer system whereby everyone can have state affordable health care coverage. In other words all of the money that is being used now for bureaucratic paper waste and benefiting private insurance companies would go to insuring all of Illinois residents directly.
If passed HB 311 would do three things. First, it will make healthcare coverage universal for all Illinois residents. Second, it would lower the costs overall for Illinois residents trying to afford prescription medicines and doctor visits. A single payer system will mean that the system and not different private companies or private hospitals will be able to negotiate the prices of prescription medications. Finally, by providing coverage for all and bringing down the costs of medications and medical care the system would be self-sustaining and spread the care for all individuals evenly (much like car insurance does now).
The private healthcare companies are of course opposed to it. It will mean that there will be no more providing health insurance at exorbitant rates. This will mean that there will be no more insuring only individuals who are healthy and wealthy and not insuring those who need insurance the most. It will also mean that all individuals—regardless of income—will be insured and therefore safe from serious financial burdens if they become sick or injured. There are now an estimated 1.7 million Illinois residents without any form of health insurance coverage. As private healthcare coverage becomes more costly, more small and medium-sized businesses will be dropping what private health insurance they have. This in turn will only add to the number who are uninsured and will be an additional burden to the whole state medical system.
Under the circumstances prevailing, a single payer insurance system makes sense and may be the only way that Illinois will be able to not only help all Illinois residents but also provide all state residents with healthcare when they need it. Tell your state representative to vote for HB 311. For more information, go to the website www.healthcareil.org.