The Green Party of New Jersey demands that comprehensive single-payer
universal healthcare (from cradle to grave, leaving no one behind) be passed and
implemented. The most efficient and effective method is to pass Medicare for All
legislation, preferably on a national level. Moreover, the Green Party is the only
national party in the United States that endorses Improved and Expanded
Medicare for All as part of its platform. The Green Party of New Jersey platform
also adopts this within the pillar of Social Justice.
Senator Sanders and Congresswoman Jayapal have released the new National
Improved Medicare for All bills for the current legislative session (S-1506/H.R. 3069).
The Green Party of New Jersey supports this effort as a positive step toward a National Health
Service and encourages everyone to contact their federal legislators to sign on to
these bills. We are also working toward Medicare for All in New Jersey by supporting S-304,
which would place all residents of New Jersey into traditional Medicare. Our
Gubernatorial and Assembly candidates will be advocating for this effort during
the 2025 campaign.
The United States spends more on healthcare than any other country, but has
worse health outcomes, including a high infant mortality rate and the highest
rate of people with multiple chronic diseases. How many more people must die
from placing profit over people?
From 2001 to 2023, there have been more than 650,000 medical bankruptcies,
and 100 million people in the United States currently have medical debt. This
simply does not happen in other developed countries. The healthcare of our
people should not require a GoFundMe page. Providing for general welfare and
health should be a top priority of the government. To accomplish this, profits
must be removed from healthcare, and healthcare must be separated from
employment. As such, the federal bills provide for cradle-to-grave universal health coverage,
which includes dental, hearing, and vision coverage, as well as long-term care for seniors.
As Medicare is already a national healthcare institution, it
makes sense to structure the system as Medicare for All. According to a Yale
study, the administrative and other savings from this system are estimated to be
$458 billion a year, and 68,000 lives would be saved annually. No deductibles, co-
pays, or premiums; just comprehensive healthcare for all, with the decisions being
made by medical professionals and not insurance companies, which profit by
denying care. Seventy percent of all Americans support universal healthcare
without any private insurance middlemen.
In addition to National Improved Medicare for All, the Green Party of New
Jersey supports a state initiative to allow all residents to be covered by Medicare
as it currently exists. A recent Eagleton Institute poll found that over 70 percent of
New Jerseyans support Medicare for All, and 93 percent support such efforts at
the state level. This poll was initiated by the New Jersey Universal Healthcare
Coalition (NJUHC). The Green Party of New Jersey is a member of the NJUHC and
sits on the Board.
Given the importance of healthcare and the current draconian federal
administration, the Green Party of New Jersey is working with the NJUHC and all
member groups to pass Medicare for All on a state level, providing current
Medicare benefits to all New Jersey residents. For public health and sound policy
reasons, this coverage is not limited to just citizens. S-304 has already been
introduced in the New Jersey Legislature with important co-sponsors such as the
Chairman of the Senate Health, Human Services, and Senior Citizens Committee.
The Coalition is working on Assembly sponsors and the introduction of a bill in
that Chamber of the Legislature. While a work in progress, the bill can be viewed
as a pilot project of National Improved Medicare for All, except it is state-based
and would make all New Jerseyans eligible for Medicare as the system currently
exists. This innovative approach is federally administered in that Medicaid and
Medicare funding, as well as employer and employee contributions, would go into
a trust fund to pay for the healthcare, and the program would be administered as
Medicare. Because of the lower overhead, the cost would be less, and the
coverage would be universal. The NJUHC estimates a 38 million dollar surplus to
be used for expanding care. Moreover, all those in Medicaid would be on
Medicare, ensuring equal coverage and avoiding Medicaid funding issues.
It is important to note that no additional new taxes would be needed to
provide this healthcare coverage for all New Jerseyans. The administrative
savings allow for the universal Medicare coverage. Moreover, the savings from
the program would lead to lower property taxes, as public entities such as towns
and schools would no longer be shouldering the cost of healthcare for their
employees. Auto insurance rates would also lessen as the cost of medical care is a
main driver of rates. Businesses (especially small businesses) would also benefit if
they did not have to provide private healthcare plans to their employees.
Healthcare has been a major concern of business owners for years. With their
savings, they could provide more jobs and increase the pay of existing employees.
The state effort does not abandon the National Improved Medicare for All
“Gold Standard” approach. Rather, a Concurrent Resolution will be introduced
asking the New Jersey Legislature to endorse the National Improved Medicare for
All legislation. It is time that New Jersey and the rest of the nation recognize the
benefits of universal single-payer healthcare in the form of Medicare for All.
Together, we can save countless lives and improve the quality of life for millions.
We invite you to join us in the fight on Friday, May 30th, 2025 for a rally outside of Sen.
Kim’s Barrington, NJ office! Sen. Kim has met with NJUHC many times over the years,
but never backed Medicare for All legislation during his time as a Congressman. If Sen.
Kim does not lead boldly to make a difference in people’s lives, he will continue to allow
dangerous, dark, and destructive policies to prevail.
Register for the rally HERE and see the full details below.
Medicare for All Rally!
Friday, May 30, 2025
3:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Office of U.S. Senator Andy Kim
208 White Horse Pike,
Suite 18
Barrington, NJ 08007
Sign up for updates and/or get more involved with the Green Party of New Jersey here.