Single Payer Bills for Massachusetts

This web page was updated March 24, 2017.

Summaries of Single Payer bills (2017-19 Legislative session)

1. “An act establishing improved Medicare for All in Massachusetts”

SB 619 (lead sponsor Senator James B. Eldridge); H ____ (lead sponsor Rep. Garlick)

This bill would create a single-payer health insurance plan for all Massachusetts residents. The plan calls for public financing to provide privately delivered health care to all Massachusetts residents, including those currently enrolled in Medicare and Medicaid. The proposal would pool state and federal outlays for current public programs, additional revenue from a health payroll tax (7.5% on employers with 2.5% employee contribution) and a small tax on dividends/interest (to make the funding progressive). For all employees, the self-employed and small business owners, the first $30,000 of revenue would not be taxed. No social security or pension benefits would be taxed. The plan would cover 100 percent of health care costs for residents eliminating premiums, co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles.

2. “An act to ensure effective health care cost control”

SB 610 (lead sponsor Senator Julian Cyr); HB 596 (lead sponsor Rep. Jennifer E. Benson.)

This bill calls upon the Legislature to set up a commission to compare the actual health care costs in Massachusetts, for three years, against a model of health care costs using a single payer plan (as proposed in the bill, above). Furthermore, if the single payer plan is shown to be a better approach- providing high quality care with access to all AND SAVINGS – the Legislature would be required to start the process to enact legislation for a single payer plan.

Frequently Asked Questions about Medicare for All in Massachusetts.

For more information, contact Mass-Care: The Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care, 9 Hamilton Place, Boston MA 02108