Hundreds of people turned out last week when Representative Ilhan Omar arrived at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport, the terminal erupting into chants of “Welcome home” as the legislator walked through the door.
Even more people showed up for the event Rep. Omar was in town for—a Medicare for All community conversation with Rep. Pramila Jayapal. The room of reportedly 500 people gave a standing ovation when Rep. Omar walked to the stage to introduce the panelists: Rose Roach, Executive Director of the Minnesota Nurses Association, Erin Murphy, Former Minnesota House of Representatives Majority Leader, Minnesota Senator Melisa Franzen, and Dave Dvorak, M.D.
“I know that there are a lot of people who are trying to distract us now. But I want all of you to know: We are not going to let them,” Rep. Omar kicked off her introduction to the room.
You can watch the whole livestream here. No time? That’s okay! Keep scrolling and we’ll fill you in.
WHAT IS MEDICARE FOR ALL?
Medicare for All is a simple health care system that reflects our values:
- We need a system where everyone’s in and nobody’s out.
- Our health care system should make people healthier. It shouldn’t make CEOs rich.
- When everyone has health care, everyone benefits.
Rep. Jayapal, the co-chair of the Progressive Caucus, has introduced one of the most people-centered Medicare for All plans we’ve seen.
In Rep. Jayapal’s proposal, Medicare for All coverage includes:
- Hospital visits, primary care, lab work
- Vision, dental, and prescription drugs
- Mental health care
- Long-term care services, such as nursing homes
- Reproductive health services, including abortion
- Maternity and newborn care
Rep. Jayapal says Medicare for All is the solution to our broken health care system—and the hard choices people across the country are faced with when trying to access the care they need.
“Every single day [Americans] are making untenable choices,” said Rep. Jayapal. “Choices like foreclosing on their home or getting their cancer treatments. Choices like raiding their kid’s college fund, if they happen to have one. Choices like not getting their full prescription because they can’t afford it, so instead they cut their prescription pills in half at their kitchen table and they hope that maybe that is going to do what they need.”
Currently, Rep. Omar is the only Minnesota member of Congress to sign on to the Medicare for All bill.
HEALTH CARE WE CAN COUNT ON
The pathway toward simple, affordable health care is through public programs, not the failing health insurance market. And Minnesotans, like 70% of Americans, support Medicare for All. That showed up loud and clear at the Medicare for All community discussion.
“Nurses view all issues through the lens of health,” said Rose Roach, Executive Director of the Minnesota Nurses Association. “They see the devastating impact of racism, unaffordable housing, food insecurity, income inequality, and lack of access to public transportation, and environmental destruction has on our health.”
Former Minnesota House Majority leader and registered nurse Erin Murphy assured Minnesotans that we already have the infrastructure needed for Medicare for All—and when we have expanded government health care in the past, people’s access to health care improved.
“Minnesotans actually care about each other,” Murphy said. “And if we remember that the health care system is about care, and when we look at each other and remember that we are tied together in a web of humanity, we can use the power of what bring us together to move policy.”
It’s our government’s responsibility to make sure our health care system works for everyone. Take action today to build a health care system where everybody is in, nobody is out.
- Share with us your health care story and why you believe all Minnesotans deserve affordable, accessible care.
- Email info@takeactionminnesota.org to meet with one of our care organizers and start taking action.
- Contact your member of Congress and ask them to support Medicare for All. Find their contact information here. In Rep. Omar’s district? Contact Speaker of the House Nancy Pelsoi at (202) 225-4965.
