Approximately 2.6 million New Yorkers have no health coverage; we cannot wait for the federal government to enact a single-payer universal health care program. New York can provide the model for a National Health Insurance program by building on the strengths of the current Medicare program and on New York's own Family Health Plus. We need health coverage that is available to all, regardless of income, age, and medical history. This can be achieved without raising taxes by eliminating the wasteful, expensive private health insurance industry, eradicating fraud, and emphasizing preventative health care. In the single-payer system ("Medicare for All") that I endorse, health financing will be provided by a single public agency and delivered by private doctors and institutions. This is the most practical and cost-effective solution to our state's health care problems.

59% of US doctors support this move to a single-payer system.

Universal, Comprehensive Coverage - Only such coverage ensures access, avoids a two-class system, and minimizes expense

No out-of-pocket payments - Co-payments and deductibles are barriers to access, administratively unwieldy, and unnecessary for cost containment

A single insurance plan in each region, administered by a public or quasi-public agency - A fragmentary payment system that entrusts private firms with administration ensures the waste of billions of dollars on useless paper pushing and profits. Private insurance duplicating public coverage fosters two-class care and drives up costs; such duplication should be prohibited

Global operating budgets for hospitals, nursing homes, allowed group and staff model HMOs and other providers with separate allocation of capital funds - Billing on a per-patient basis creates unnecessary administrative complexity and expense. A budget separate from operating expenses will be allowed for capital improvements

Free Choice of Providers - Patients should be free to seek care from any licensed health care provider, without financial incentives or penalties

Public Accountability, Not Corporate Dictates - The public has an absolute right to democratically set overall health policies and priorities, but medical decisions must be made by patients and providers rather than dictated from afar. Market mechanisms principally empower employers and insurance bureaucrats pursuing narrow financial interests

Protection of the rights of health care and insurance workers - A single-payer national health program would eliminate the jobs of hundreds of thousands of people who currently perform billing, advertising, eligibility determination, and other superfluous tasks. These workers must be guaranteed retraining and placement in meaningful jobs.

From the American Journal of Public Health

"Health care is an essential safeguard of human life and dignity, and there is an obligation for society to ensure that every person be able to realize this right."

- Cardinal Joseph Bernardin