Photo of commission chair Mary Alford and activists after the Medicare for All resolution had been adopted (taken by Takumi Sullivan, Multimedia Coordinator for Alachua County).
The following is a press release authored by Stephan Ramdohr (Florida Medicare for All), Candy Bird (Medicare for All Florida), Patrick Haley (Students for a National Health Program-UF Chapter), and Dr. Gerald Stein (Physicians for a National Health Program), and Dr. Bobby Mermer (Alachua County Labor Coalition)
On Tuesday, December 12th, the Alachua County commission voted to adopt a nonbinding resolution endorsing Medicare for All.
This effort was organized by Medicare for All Florida, Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP), Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) and the Alachua County Labor Coalition. Dozens and dozens of Alachua County residents also supported the resolution by signing a petition, which was submitted to the county commission. “We are happy to support Medicare for All,” said Commission Chair Mary Alford, sponsor of the resolution, upon its unanimous passage.
The resolution supports federal legislation, H.R.3421, the Medicare for All Act of 2023, which has already been co-sponsored by a majority of House Democrats. The number of co-sponsors currently stands at 112.
“I am covered with Medicare myself right now, but I want my children and their children to have the same access and ability to receive all the healthcare they need,” said Candy Birch, a board member of Medicare for All Florida, a statewide nonprofit organization advocating for guaranteed healthcare for all. “When we successfully encouraged Key West and Gainesville to adopt a Medicare for All resolution, I felt that Alachua County should also be on the record in favor of Medicare for All.“
“Since 1999 the Alachua County Labor Coalition has worked tirelessly to win national single-payer health insurance through educating the public and policymakers alike on its benefits. Medicare for All would be a boon for working families across the country,” said Dr. Bobby Mermer, coordinator of the Alachua County Labor Coalition. “If a national single-payer insurance system is adopted, these families will no longer be tied to jobs they hate just to keep their health coverage. When tragedy strikes, they would be able to focus on caring for their loved ones instead of spending sleepless nights figuring out how to pay for their coinsurance or copayments. What’s more, the overall cost of health care in the United States would shrink, finally putting the insatiable cash monster to sleep.”
“Almost half of people in Alachua County are either uninsured or underinsured causing restrictions in their ability to get recommended care. The bottom line is that a large proportion of Americans are sick and vulnerable while insurance companies profit,” said Patrick Haley, president of the University of Florida chapter of Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP). “The answer is Medicare for All. This means no more surprise bills, freedom to change doctors and choose hospitals, no more holding off going to the doctor for fear of your bill, and according to the Congressional Budgeting Office, higher wages, increased disposable income, and improved health and longevity.”.
The U.S. Bureau of the Census’ American Community Survey as of 2020 shows that 8.3% of non-institutionalized civilians in Alachua County had no health insurance, which means that an estimated 23,000 residents may be uninsured. And that does not count the many Alachua County residents who are underinsured, or have other problems receiving the care they need in the current healthcare system.