March 25, 2021
CONTACT: Adam Beddawi, ABeddawi@accesscommunity.org
Washington, D.C. – Last week, Congresswomen Pramila Jayapal (WA-7) and Debbie Dingell (MI-12) introduced the Medicare for All Act of 2021. With passage of the American Rescue Plan Act now in our rearview mirror, the National Network of Arab American Communities (NNAAC) welcomes this legislation “to establish an improved Medicare for All national health insurance program.”
The bill was introduced one year to the day from the onset of a pandemic lockdown which revealed in striking clarity the limitations of our current for-profit health-care system. When the pandemic lockdown began, people were cast from their employer-provided health insurance plans, addled by high insurance premiums, and forced to choose between servicing one or another of their vital health needs – many faced all three issues and more. As a community-based organization and service provider, we welcome the expansions to Medicare’s comprehensive benefit provisions, universal coverage of long-term care, and freedom of choice in where to obtain health services.
Our current health system prices health insurance better than it provides health care. The health and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic demand that we build a system which works for all Americans, and this bill offers a real alternative.
As a coalition of 27 Arab American community organizations of national, state, and local scope, we commend the Medicare For All Act’s Congressional co-sponsors for moving to introduce this transformative legislation. We look forward to working on next steps alongside the 300 local, state, and national organizations who have endorsed it.