IS AMERICAN HEALTHCARE “A GIANT BLOODSUCKING TICK?”
QUICK READ: The US is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare for its citizens as a human right. When UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot on December 4th, it triggered a national conversation filled with collective anger. We should harness the zeitgeist. Demand single payer health insurance and ban for-profit healthcare for good.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
BACKGROUND:
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation—it’s 17% of our GDP. By comparison, nations like Germany, Canada, and Australia spend less than 11% on it.
There is also no other developed nation that runs a multi-billion-dollar for-profit health industry. We seem attached to this model like a “a giant, bloodsucking tick.”
Americans have let themselves be held captive to a failing healthcare system almost as if we were experiencing a collective Stockholm Syndrome. We seem unable to consider the viability of affordable healthcare for everyone. Instead, our norm allows for-profit company middlemen to deny claims through algorithmic formulas that ignore the wisdom of medical professionals.
But when UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson was shot on December 4th, it triggered a national conversation—even a communal Schadenfreude—that exposed our shared rage. Thompson’s death discharged a swell of anger at massive profits and multimillion-dollar bonuses paid to corporate intermediaries. Indeed, a poll taken shortly after the shooting found that nearly 7 in 10 Americans think insurance company greed explains the murder.
Despite dark times ahead, let’s harness the zeitgeist—demand single payer health insurance and ban for-profit healthcare for good.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: <a data-preserve-html-node="true" href= | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
SCRIPT FOR Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Salem office: 503-986-1439 | DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
The United States is the only developed country in the world that does not define healthcare a human right for its citizens. We spend more on healthcare than every other nation and deserve better than a model that prioritizes corporate greed over quality care. We demand single payer health insurance and an end to for-profit health care.
