Ballot Question 5 in the 2nd Franklin District instructs the state representative to vote in favor of “Medicare for All” in Massachusetts. Please consider voting yes on Question 5. The new 2nd Franklin District consists of Precincts 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 in Greenfield, Gill, Northfield, Erving, Warwick, Orange, Athol, Royalston, Phillipston and Winchendon Precinct 1. This question gives voters the chance to express their opinion on whether they would instruct their state representative, in this case, Susannah Whipps-Lee, I-Athol, to vote in favor of a single payer system of health care that provides all Massachusetts residents with coverage and choice.
This question will be on the ballot in 20 different state representative districts in Massachusetts. This bill would cover more than present Medicare does and would cover all residents of Massachusetts no matter their age. It would actually reduce the size of the state budget by eliminating private insurance companies and paying for health coverage through a public trust fund. It would save individuals and families money by eliminating co-pays and deductibles as well as insurance payments. There would be one payer, not many different insurances, and this would increase efficiency in health care offices. That is why it is call Single Payer Health Insurance. If passed, it would be paid for by a payroll tax on employers and employees. After the first $20,000 of income a worker would pay a 2.5% tax and employers would pay either 7.5% or 8% depending on the size of the company. This tax would be considerably less than what people have taken out of their paychecks for insurance premiums today and what employers pay. Coverage would be extended to cover all medically necessary care and in addition would cover dental and eye care. The overall health of the residents of Massachusetts would improve, because everyone would be able to access health care without worrying about coverage and cost. For more information contact Judy Atkins locally at judithga@comcast.net or Mass-Care: the Massachusetts Campaign for Single Payer Health Care, https://masscare.org.
Judith Atkins
Greenfield