The Medicare for All Act of 2021
Watch for more details and analysis of the Medicare for Act of 2021 to appear on our site. The legislation does retain much of the 2019 version of the bill plus there have been improvements. The new bill number is HR 1976.
This major piece of legislation sets the standard for single-payer universal healthcare!
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HR 1976 will establish a single-payer, universal healthcare system in the United States. It will charge no out-of-pocket costs for any US resident.
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As with the 2019 Medicare for All Bill, the 2021 Medicare for All legislation will cover:
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Dental services
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Prescription drugs and medical devices
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Mental health and substance abuse treatment
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Oral, hearing, and vision services
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Laboratory and diagnostic services
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Inpatient and outpatient hospital services
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Ambulatory services
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Primary care and preventive services
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Chronic disease management
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Pediatrics
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Reproductive, maternity, and newborn services
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Short-term rehabilitative and habilitative services
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Approved dietary and nutritional therapies
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Podiatric care
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Emergency services and transportation
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Early and periodic screening, diagnostic, and treatment services
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Necessary transportation for health care services for persons with disabilities or who may qualify as low income
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​And crucially, long-term palliative care!
Changes in the 2021 legislation which were not in the 2019 version:
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Establishes a new Office of Health Equity within the U.S. Department of Health tasked with ending the disparities in health access and outcomes based on race, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, disability, primary language, homelessness, geography and socioeconomic status
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Improves benefits for workers in the private insurance industry who are transitioned out of their jobs and provides preferential hiring
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Maintains the Tricare military health system in addition to VA and Indian Health Services
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Expands funding for global budgeting and prioritizes funding for minority services