GREENFIELD \u2014 Advocates for single-payer health care say creating a Massachusetts Healthcare Trust could save the state $37.36 billion in health insurance costs.<\/p>\n
While state legislators consider S.860\/H.1405, \u201cAn Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts,\u201d local members of Mass-Care, a single-payer health care advocacy group, answered questions about the proposed system during a \u201cTheater of Ideas\u201d event at The LAVA Center on Main Street on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cHealth care is a right, and should be a right, not a privilege in Massachusetts,\u201d said David Cohen, Mass-Care\u2019s board co-chair. \u201cThat health care should cover all people\u2019s needs. Under this legislation, all medically necessary procedures, anything that a doctor orders, would be covered.\u201d <\/p>\n
Cohen said the legislation was modeled after the Canadian health care system, and if passed, would create a Massachusetts Healthcare Trust that could provide broader coverage and be more cost-effective.<\/p>\n
The legislation would allow the trust to negotiate with pharmaceutical companies for lower drug costs. By eliminating private insurance companies and dealing directly with the trust fund for billing, medical centers would be able to reduce administrative costs. Cohen said the cost savings would mean no deductibles or copays for Massachusetts residents, as well as for anyone who lives in a different state but works at least 20 hours a week in Massachusetts.<\/p>\n
He said an analysis done by University of Massachusetts Amherst economics professor Gerald Friedman projected the act could reduce health insurance spending by $48.42 billion. After factoring in approximately $11 billion in improvements across the state\u2019s health care systems, Massachusetts would likely see a net savings of $37.36 billion.<\/p>\n
Attendees at The LAVA Center asked about the impact on taxes, particularly on retirees with limited incomes.<\/p>\n
Cohen said the trust fund would be supported with the state\u2019s existing federal funding for Medicare and Medicaid, and through taxes. Employers will pay 7.5% of their payroll, employees will pay 2.5% of their wages, self-employed people will pay 10% of their income, and unearned income (capital gains and interest on stocks and bonds) will be taxed at 10%. He added that all taxes are applied to incomes or wages above a $20,000 threshold.<\/p>\n
A previous estimate from Greenfield Finance Director Stephen Nembirkow found that, in fiscal year 2026, the city would likely save close to $6 million in health insurance costs under a single-payer health care system.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019d be like a pay raise for the employees and it would be a huge savings for the town,\u201d Cohen said.<\/p>\n
Attendees also asked about cosmetic procedures and gender-affirming care. Cohen said the trust would not cover cosmetic and elective procedures, but would cover gender-affirming care. Anything a doctor deems as necessary care would be covered, without the doctor needing to get prior authorization from insurance.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt works. It gives a lot more freedom to health care providers. Health care providers are not being watched over their shoulders by the insurance company [under the legislation],\u201d Mass-Care board member Judy Atkins said. \u201cThey get to make their own decisions about what\u2019s appropriate care for their patients.\u201d <\/p>\n
Doug Selwyn, a member of Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution, said that with cuts to Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other health programs, universal health care is needed now more than ever.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe gap between those who have and those who don\u2019t is getting wider and wider,\u201d Selwyn said. \u201cThis does not take care of everything, but it addresses some.\u201d <\/p>\n
Selwyn said the bill has been filed many times in previous sessions and has failed to pass, despite overwhelmingly positive testimony at legislative hearings. He alleged that health insurance companies were lobbying state legislators to vote against the bill.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe folks who were against it don\u2019t testify there,\u201d Selwyn said of the legislative hearings. \u201cThey walk the halls of the Legislature with their checkbooks open.\u201d <\/p>\n
Cohen said Mass-Care will continue to advocate for the bill\u2019s passage. He also encouraged attendees to promote the idea in their own towns and ask town officials to sign resolutions of support. The Greenfield Human Rights Commission signed a resolution<\/a> to support single-payer healthcare earlier this month.<\/p>\n \u201cThe more we can act locally to make things as healthy and together in our community, the more we can both take care of each other but also be in a more powerful position to radiate outward with the efforts we can take,\u201d Selwyn explained.<\/p>\n