To: Abigail Davis Spanberger

From: Kswanna Letsinger, B.S.

Date: 3/25/2019
Subject: H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019

We all are aware that there is an ongoing issue with the accessibility and the cost of healthcare in
the United States of America. Thankfully, many employers offer insurance as an incentive with a
subsidized price. However, many Americans are not offered this benefit, or it is incredibly
costly; they are uninsured or underinsured. Individuals should not be forced to choose between
seeking healthcare for themselves and their families or managing household expenses. I strongly
support bill H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019. Healthcare should be obtainable for all
and not just those who can afford it.

Those who do not have affordable insurance without a primary care office established, utilize the
emergency department when symptoms are unbearable. The cost is exceptionally high, and the
medical bill often becomes debt. The hospital rarely gets paid by the consumer for the service
because it is nearly impossible with a middle- or lower-class income. What is even more
concerning, is that the individual goes without preventative healthcare or management of
medical diagnoses which leads to poor health outcomes. This bill will provide universal
healthcare and allows people to choose their primary care provider. There would be no out-of-
pocket cost for individuals. Passing this bill will lead to a decrease in emergency department
utilization and lower hospitalization cost and better overall healthcare outcomes for Americans.

 Currently, 30 million individuals are uninsured, and 40 million are underinsured (Tlaib
2019).
 Hospitals will bill someone with insurance, and the bill will be higher because there is no
insurance carrier to negotiate lower prices (USA Today 2017).
 The United States spends more on healthcare than other industrialized countries with
poorer health outcomes (Tlaib 2019).

Recommendation: Vote to pass bill H.R.1384 - Medicare for All Act of 2019. As we can see
healthcare is not accessible to everyone living in the United States. This is leading to a
continuous increase in healthcare costs and more importantly horrible health outcomes for
uninsured and underinsured individuals. Unaffordable healthcare is unjust. I recommend that
health coverage is provided to all along with education on how to navigate the healthcare system.
I believe this will lower healthcare costs in the U.S. and improve patient outcomes.

The healthcare system was designed to provide service and support. It should not be a
contributing factor to the world of the haves and have-nots.
 References

Groppe, M. (2017, July 13). Who pays when someone without insurance shows up in the ER?

Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/07/03/who-pays-

when-someone-without-insurance-shows-up-er/445756001/

Legislative Search Results. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-

congress/house-bill

Sullivan, P. (2019, February 14). Democrats seek cosponsors for new 'Medicare for all' bill.

Retrieved from https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/430012-democrats-seek-cosponsors-

for-new-medicare-for-all-bill