The Green Party supports Medicare for All - Most Democrats do not.

Why is that? What can you do about it?

Keep this chart handy. It will answer most questions about National Health Insurance. The essential points are:

l) The for-profit insurance companies are out of the picture, saving us at least 25% of costs.
2) Everyone is covered, and 95% will pay far less;
3) We'll be healthier. CONYERS BILL - HR 676
United States National Health Insurance Act (Expanded and Improved Medicare for All)

PARTICIPATION: * All residents of U.S. and territories. *

REGISTRATION: National Health Insurance application filled out at health provider. Cannot be more than two pages. Card issued through the mail, unrelated to Social Security number. * You are eligible for all covered treatment when you show the card. *

BENEFITS: Primary and preventive care; inpatient, outpatient, and emergency care; prescription drugs, durable medical equipment, long-term care, mental health and substance abuse services; all
non-cosmetic dentistry; chiropractic services, and basic vision care. * All necessary care. *

PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: * Government negotiates prices annually. Generics promoted. *

ELIGIBLE PROVIDERS: * Must be public or not-for-profit. Investors in privately owned providers will be compensated through a 15-year buy-out. Only non-profit, care-delivering HMO's allowed. *

REIMBURSEMENT: 1) Global budget (lump sum) payment to hospitals and other care-giving institutions. 2) Fee-for-service payment to doctors. * Both are negotiated annually. *

PORTABILITY: Benefits available anywhere in the U.S. *

CO-PAYS? DEDUCTIBLES? NONE. * Cost sharing (co-pays, co-insurance) prohibited. *

ACCESS TO PROVIDERS: * Free choice of doctors and hospitals. *

QUALITY CONTROL: President appoints 15-member National Board of Universal Quality and Access, * with representatives of consumers and providers. * Board reports on efficiency, budget adequacy,
long-term care, reimbursement problems, mental health, and substance abuse services. *

BUDGET: Annual Congressional appropriations for: (1) operating budget to cover payments to care-givers, global budgets for institutions, capitation payment, administration costs; (2) capital expenditures budget for construction, renovation, and major equipment purchases. *

HOW IS IT FINANCED? 1) * A "modest" payroll tax (a couple of percentage points) * 2) much less paperwork; 3) bulk procurement of medications; 4) existing federal health care funds; 5) an income tax increase for the top 5% of income earners; 6) a small tax on stock and bond transactions. *

DISPLACED WORKERS: * Displaced workers are given priority for retraining and placement. *

IMMIGRANTS: * Any resident of the U.S. is covered. *

LONG-TERM CARE: * Yes! And non-institutional care is favored. *

MENTAL HEALTH: * Community-based care is favored. Coverage for supportive residences, occupational therapy, outpatient mental services, and counseling. Institutional care. *

EXISTING GOV'T AGENCIES: * VA and Indian Health Services phased out over 5 years. *

ADMINISTRATION: * Sec. of Health & Human Services appoints Director of USNHI, Director chooses a director for (1) long-term care; (2) mental health; (3) 0ffice of Quality Control. Regional offices replace current medical regions. *

OTHERS: * Establishment of electronic patient record database for all billing. Medical records entered at patient's discretion.*

Information from: LONG ISLAND COALITION FOR A NATIONAL HEALTH PLAN, Box 382, Hicksville, NY 11802-0382 (516) 766-8658