Does America need a new healthcare system? DUH.

So what is DUH?

DUH stands for Demonstration for Universal Healthcare. We are working to create a massive demonstration in Grant Park in Chicago in the Fall of 2013. Anyone who lives with a medical condition of any kind, their family, friends, medical providers; anyone who’s struggled with medical debt and/or bankruptcy; anyone of any political, religious, economic, or racial background; labor and business people; anyone who cares about the health of our nation – everyone will come together to bring the attention of the media and our politicians to the fact that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is neither affordable nor enough to correct the injustice and abuse of the profit-driven system we have. 

Policy

We understand that the Affordable Care Act contains many benefits that are or will make a significant, positive difference for many people. We will not support repealing the ACA unless it will be replaced by single-payer, but we will not advocate for it either. It is not enough and we won’t settle for less than true universal, single-payer healthcare. 

Vision

The vision of DUH includes everyone from true believers to Tea Partiers, who, despite their ideology, have bodies or loved ones that have or will have medical needs at some point. If we mean it when we say, “Everybody in, nobody out,” we must reach out to everybody. 

Mission

It is DUH’s mission to be a rallying point for all who need or provide healthcare and are willing to act to create a system wherein everyone pays in and everyone receives the care they need. The event is only a starting point, drawing attention to the need for more than the ACA and hopefully inspiring participants to become more active with each other and their legislators to achieve single-payer healthcare becoming the law of the land.

Why universal or single-payer healthcare?

  • Your access to healthcare would not depend upon your health status, age, or ability to pay
  • No premiums, deductibles, co-pays, or co-insurance
  • The economic benefit is greatest if there’s an emphasis on preventive medicine – costs are much lower if people don’t get sick in the first place or manage chronic conditions so they don’t get worse.
  • More money will be available for placing of medical resources based on community need, as well as preventive and illness-based care
  • For a full discussion of questions related to the reasons for and impact of single-payer healthcare, click this link: http://www.pnhp.org/facts/single-payer-faq

Is it free? Nope. There is no free lunch, but there is a plan…

Proposed funding plan (this is just a starting point) for H.R. 676, the Expanded & Improved Medicare for All Act is:

  • Maintain the current level that individuals pay (1.45%) and employers pay (2.9%) for Medicare/ Medicaid, as well as adding a 4.5% tax for employers and 3.3% for individuals.
  • Somewhat higher tax for top income earners over 1 million dollars
  • 1/3 of 1% stock transaction tax

Is it good for Business and Government? YES!

  • Employers would pay a pre-defined percentage of their operating budget (around 7.4%).
  • No more annually rising premiums and shrinking benefit coverage
  • No need to negotiate with unions over healthcare benefits
  • Employers would save thousands on healthcare coverage, increasing their ability to hire more workers
  • Local, state and federal budgets, including school districts, would reduce their health care costs substantially, not just by shifting, but by reducing taxpayer burden
  • Healthcare benefits for pensions would no longer be an issue.