Universal Health Care

Click to see a map of state legislative action on this topic

Most recent reports suggest that nearly half of all Americans lack health insurance coverage—and the federal government is no closer to acting to fix the problem.  Many states are taking the lead with their own plans.  A majority of these are based on the "single-payer" model. This approach consolidates all payers – federal, state, and private insurance plans - into a single administrative structure, with the state (or federal) government handling payments.

Maine became the first state to pass such legislation in 2003 with the Dirigo Health Reform Act, a measure aimed at providing every citizen with health care access by 2009.   In 2005, Illinois passed the All Kids Health Insurance Program, creating a system whereby all children under the age of 18, if not already covered by their parents or by another state-sponsored program, could access coverage. 

In 2006, Massachusetts and Vermont passed legislation to ensure that all state residents have health insurance. The Massachusetts legislation promises that every person in the Commonwealth will have health care access by 2009.  The act combines a number of strategies to pull some 550,000 uninsured into the system, including an individual mandate, a Medicaid expansion, tax benefits for health saving accounts and businesses that offer insurance, and low-cost targeted plans for young people, ages 19-26.  In Vermont, H 861 or the Health Care Affordability Act, creates Catamount Health, which will provide affordable, comprehensive coverage for uninsured Vermonters.

Click on the links below to learn more about which states are acting on these key issues (data is current to the end of the most recent state legislative cycle, which concluded in 2005 for most states):

• Nurse staffing ratios
• Nurse staffing plans
• Mandatory overtime ban
• Safe patient handling and movement
• Whistleblower protection
• Universal health care