On Wednesday, May 8, representatives to South Hadley’s Town Meeting will be asked to pass a resolution expressing the town’s support for single-payer health coverage in Massachusetts.
This resolution follows a ballot question in the November 2018 election supporting single-payer health care that garnered “yes” votes from 66.3 percent of South Hadley citizens who weighed in on the issue. We encourage all Town Meeting members to vote for this resolution. ‘
If passed, the resolution would be used to communicate our town’s support for two bills pending in the state legislature: Senate Bill S.683 and House Bill H.1194, both titled “An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts.”
South Hadley’s state Sen. Jo Comerford is a petitioner for S.683, and state Rep. Dan Carey, South Hadley’s state representative, is a petitioner for H.1194. Both bills propose universal, comprehensive, single-payer health care coverage for all Massachusetts residents.
Currently, the U.S. is the only industrialized nation without universal coverage, and our citizens have poorer health outcomes than residents of those other countries. With universal coverage, monies now wasted on the administration of private insurance could go toward actual care for patients. Unfortunately, reforms in recent years under the Affordable Care Act still leave many citizens with costs beyond their means and care below their needs.
Health insurance is becoming an increasing burden on municipal governments. It is estimated that South Hadley’s annual cost for insuring its employees could be reduced by more than $1.5 million under the proposed bills, funds that could be used for other needs in our community.
Town Meeting representatives and community members can read the resolution at www.wmmedicareforall.org/. Additionally, “Fix It,” a short documentary about the benefits of a single-payer system, will be shown on Thursday, April 25, at 6:30 p.m., at the South Hadley Public Library, free to all. Town Meeting members, please join us and many South Hadley voters in supporting the warrant article on single-payer coverage.
Stephanie Strand
South Hadley
The author represents Western Mass. Medicare for All’s Granby/South Hadley region.