Title
RESOLUTION OF THE NEW HAVEN BOARD OF ALDERS ENDORSING THE MEDICARE FOR ALL ACT OF 2021
BODY
WHEREAS, high quality health care is a human right for every person in New Haven; and
WHEREAS, universal access to comprehensive healthcare is an important part of public health; and
WHEREAS, the City of New Haven has declared racism to be a public health emergency; and
WHEREAS, in the United States, people of color are at a higher risk of becoming uninsured, with Latino and Black populations having lower rates of health insurance enrollment (83.1% and 88.3%, respectively) as compared to their white counterparts (92.4%)
WHEREAS, one out of ten people of color in New Haven has no health insurance coverage at all, and many more are underinsured; and
WHEREAS, New Haven residents seeking immigration status have no access to public health insurance at all, leading to unnecessary illness, costly hospitalizations, and even death;
WHEREAS millions with insurance have coverage so inadequate that a major illness can lead to financial ruin, and medical illness and bills contribute to two-thirds of all bankruptcies; and
WHEREAS, in New Haven, 14% of residents of predominantly black and brown zip codes have medical debt in collections, while only 10% of residents of predominantly white zip codes do; and;
WHEREAS, women and older people are more likely to have medical debt that men and young people; and
WHEREAS, health care prices continue to rise and the federal government should act to set reasonable limits on prices for medical procedures; and
WHEREAS, the rising costs of health care strains our already strapped municipal budget, costing over $85 million for our city, and our small businesses, which we need for our communities to thrive; and
WHEREAS, it would far superior for the city of New Haven and its residents for those costs to be covered by an single, public health insurance system funded by all the taxpayers, and not just city residents; and
WHEREAS, rece...
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