On a single-payer plan, the insurance companies don't decide what's covered, and neither does the government. "You and your doctor decide on the treatment you need to have," says Rivera. "Your doctor doesn't need to check and see what's covered. If you're in the system, it's covered." The proposed plan would also cover dental, vision, mental health, and long-term care. This is a game-changer for the average working person. "We're not talking about people who are living off subsidies," says Robie. "We're talking about people who are employed, people who are busting their butts and not making enough money for health insurance. When you have to choose between putting food on your table and paying medical bills, that's not a choice you should have to make."
While the fight for single-payer healthcare is gaining momentum, Rivera says it could take a long time to jump through every hoop required to set a plan in motion. "It could be years away, but the battle is worth waging." Before Canada implemented single-payer healthcare nationwide in 1968, it started in one province, Saskatchewan, and spread to the rest of the country over a 10-year period. In the US, the path is likely to begin in one state. New York could lead the way.
It's going to take a concerted effort to stand up to big insurance and big pharma. Madalengoitia and Robie both volunteer for the Campaign for New York Health to help spread awareness about the New York Health Act. Madalengoitia wants to make sure that others don't put off going to the doctor because of cost and play roulette with their health the way she did. "I wouldn't have thought that would happen to me," she says of her cancer ordeal. "People think, 'Why should I pay for somebody else's insurance when that's not going to happen to me?' The reality is that we all pay for it anyway."
Robbins encourages supporters to get involved: Call your state senator and assembly member, and go to Lobby Day in Albany on June 5 to rally for the New York Health Act. (The Campaign for New York Health has buses available.) Tell your story, have conversations with neighbors, and speak up for universal healthcare as a human right—and the right course of action for a first-world country.
RESOURCE
Campaign for New York Health
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