Single-payer health care advocates rally at the State Capitol

By Staff
WAND-TV
March 24, 2009

Nurses, doctors, and health care activists rally at the State Capitol today in support of a single-payer healthcare system.

Saying they're tired of watching patients suffer from denial of care, these health care professionals are urging lawmakers to support the Healthcare For All Illinois Act which would guarantee everyone in the state gets health coverage.

"The single payer system has emerged no longer as the best system...its the only system. It's the only way to get out of this mess." The mess according to Dr. Quentin Young, President Obama's former personal physician, is a health care system that's grown more and more expensive because insurance companies have a hand in crafting legislation. 

Chicago State Representative Mary Flowers is sponsoring single-payer legislation, House Bill 311, which supporters say is needed now.  After these health care advocates make their pitch to lawmakers you can be sure the insurance companies are going to weigh in before the measure comes up for a vote.

A national study concludes a single-payer system would create 2.6 million new jobs and add $17 billion in new business and revenue.