Title
Resolution in Support of the Medicare for All Act of 2019
Memorandum
A resolution endorsing the single payer health insurance proposal known as Medicare for All, both at the federal and state level.
Staff
Prepared by: John Fournier, Assistant City Administrator
Reviewed by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Approved by: Tom Crawford, Interim City Administrator
Body
Whereas, The number of Americans without health insurance is well over 30 million, and climbing, with 26 million Americans filing for unemployment as of April 22, 2020 as a consequence of the Coronavirus pandemic;
Whereas, Despite important gains made since the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, at least 40 million Americans are under insured, to the degree that they cannot afford to see a doctor or seek preventive medical care as they do not meet onerous deductibles until May of each calendar year and cannot afford the co-pays;
Whereas, Every person in Ann Arbor deserves high quality healthcare;
Whereas, The never-ending rising costs of healthcare add additional uncontrolled costs to our already strained municipal budget and our small businesses, which keep our community thriving;
Whereas, The Medicare for All act of 2019 would provide national health insurance for every person in the United States for all necessary medical care, including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical and outpatient services; primary and preventive care; mental health care; emergency services; reproductive care; dental and vision care; and long-term care; and
Whereas, Recent polls show that over 55% of Americans of all political persuasions support Medicare for All;
Whereas, The Medicare for All act of 2019 will guarantee that all residents of Ann Arbor will be fully covered for healthcare without deductibles, co-pays, or other out-of-pocket costs, and would save millions in taxpayer dollars now spent on premiums that provide often inadequate health insurance coverage;
Whereas, The quality of life for all resident of Ann Arbor will vastly improve once we are all able to get the ongoing care we need, instead of waiting for medical emergencies that upend our lives and overtax our hospitals; and
Whereas, The failure to provide appropriate primary and preventive healthcare places unnecessary and expensive burdens on our emergency services, and tax the abilities of these systems to respond in true public health emergencies like the once we are currently experiencing;
RESOLVED, That the City of Ann Arbor enthusiastically supports the Medicare for All Act of 2019 (H.R. 1384 and S. 1129) and calls on our federal legislators to work towards its’ immediate enactment, assuring comprehensive and efficient healthcare for all residents of the United States; and
RESOLVED, That the Ann Arbor City Council expresses its’ enthusiastic support for State House Bill 6285, which establishes a Statewide single payer program known as “MI Care”, and encourages our state legislators to work towards its’ immediate enactment.
Sponsored by: Mayor Taylor, Councilmembers Eaton, Ramlawi, and Bannister