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Universal Health Care

Health care is a right, not a privilege. I support universal health care because nobody should be denied the care they need or go bankrupt to pay for it. Too many Americans are one medical bill away from disaster.

Our current health care system is incredibly confusing, fragmented, and expensive. Americans could have so much more peace of mind if we had a simple, seamless system where, solely by virtue of living in America, you knew you would get the care you needed for life regardless of background or income.

That's why last year, I joined several of my colleagues to reintroduce Medicare for All in the Senate to get the debate started once again.

Here's why we need Medicare for All:

  • 69% of adults in the U.S. support providing Medicare to every American, and studies estimate Medicare for All would save $650 billion and 68,000 lives per year.
  • While 44% of American adults struggle to pay for needed medical care, the country's seven major health insurance companies raked in over $69 billion in profits in 2022.
  • As millions of American families face bankruptcy and financial ruin because of the outrageously high cost of health care, the CEOs of 300 major health care companies collectively cashed in on $4.5 billion in total compensation in 2021.
  • While one out of four Americans cannot afford the life-saving medicine their doctors prescribe, in 2022 ten of the top pharmaceutical companies in the United States made over $112 billion in profits, and the top 50 executives in these companies made a combined $1.5 billion in total compensation.

It's time we put people before corporate profits and pass Medicare for All, once and for all!

Onward!

Jeff

Posted on February 7, 2024.

Born in the small town of Myrtle Creek, Oregon, Jeff Merkley has never lost touch with his working class roots.

As a U.S. Senator, he works every day to create opportunity for working families, stop the corruption of our democracy, and tackle the climate crisis.

A workhorse and a progressive champion, Jeff Merkley is leading a movement to get our country back on track.

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