In June, I was honored to join a forum on health care solutions for Florida. I presented the case for making health care a right not a privilege. I spoke of the need for establishing a single payer “Medicare for All” Health system as proposed by Cong. John Conyers in his bill, HR 676, The United State National Health Insurance Act, which would create a system that  makes health care accessible and affordable for everyone.

Another member of the panel, was a doctor who represented the medical communities interest and support for universal health care.  He related the frustration of doctors with providing a standard of care that is driven by insurance company profits rather than the medical well-being of his patients. 

A former insurance company employee, shared her experiences and regret for helping to reject claims.  She made a particularly poignant point when she compared the income of young, hot-shot insurance salesmans' income with the ever declining income of our medical doctors. 

Lastly, there was a young man who was diagnosed with cancer at age 12.  He related his real-life experiences coming from a family that could not afford insurance.  His trials and tribulations with the medical/insurance system mean life or death for this young man.

I can only say that Florida as well as other states need not wait for the federal government to take action.  As your representative, I will press for Florida to take the lead and propose its own universal health care proposal and provide access and affordability for all Floridians.