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Connecticut
Coalition for |
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The United States is the only industrialized country in the world in which health care is not a right of citizenship. As a result the United States has the worst health care statistics in the industrialized world. We rank 18th in longevity, 16th in infant mortality, and around 67th in immunizations. All because our citizens can’t access health care due to money. Guess what? It’s cheaper to finance a public health care system through taxes than it is to administer it privately. The United States spends much more per capita on health care than any country with a publicly financed health insurance plan. The 1992 report of the State Health Care Access Commission showed that a publicly financed and publicly administered system would have saved Connecticut 2 billion dollars in 1999, even though it would cover the entire population, do away with managed care, give free choice of any licensed provider, cover all necessary medical care, medications, dental care, and the medical costs of long term care--all without co-pays. How? By doing away with administrative waste, and purchasing medications in bulk. This same conclusion was reached by the recently reported study of the Massachusetts Medical Society, the AMA of Massachusetts. They concluded that a public health insurance plan for Massachusetts would save Massachusetts 1.7 to 2.7 billion dollars a year despite increag benefits and extending them to everyone in the state. Raised Bill Number 7030 would bring a publicly financed and publicly administered universal health care system to Connecticut. So why isn’t Governor Rowland supporting this fiscally conservative plan which would revitalize the republican party? Why did the Co-Chair of the Public Health Committee, Representative Mary Eberle, refuse to give this Bill a public hearing before the Public Health Committee? Find out how a public health care system can extend coverage to everyone, increase benefits, and save money. Come to a rally in support of Bill 7030 at noon on Thursday at the Legislative Office Building, and stay for the public hearing before the Labor Committee at 2:30 p.m. John R. Battista, M.D. and Justine A. McCabe, Ph.D. |
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