The Illinois Single Payer Coalition recently shared this piece by Health Care un-covered, a guide to the changes we may encounter with Trump’s Big Ugly Bill. In future pieces they will explore how we can protect ourselves from the sweeping reductions in funding and other changes to the system.
PNHP’s 2025 Medicare for All Resource Guide
Physician’s for a National Health Plan (PNHP) has provided this fantastic resource for the newly reintroduced Medicare for All Act of 2025. Both the House and Senate bills have been reintroduced this year, and as it turns out, we have our work cut out for us in central Illinois. All of our congressional representatives – both Senators Duckworth and Durbin, and Representatives Lahood and Sorenson – have continued in their refusal to endorse Medicare for All. (In the past, Senator Durbin even refused to sign a pledge not to accept money from the health insurance industry.) While LaHood is most likely a lost cause, we need to build people power in order to pressure politicians in central Illinois to lead the way and solve our dire health care crisis.
Hands Off! Rally – Sat., April 5th, 12 – 1 pm
We will be joining the Hands Off! rally in Bloomington, Illinois, organized by Voices of Reason of Indivisible, to demand that Trump and Musk’s Doge stop their attacks against Medicaid, Medicare, Social Security, and food assistance.
It will be held on the grass area of the Bloomington Center of the Performing Arts (600 N East Street, Bloomington, IL), Saturday, April 5th, 12 – 1 pm.
For more information, check out the nationwide protest page and information for the local protest.
Protect Our Care Rally
On Monday, February 24th, approximately 100 people gathered at the Normal Uptown Circle to say NO to any cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, Medicare, and Social Security. The message was for Darin La Hood, who ended up voting soon after for a federal budget that would necessitate cuts to at least Medicaid and student loans. Pressure is growing nationwide opposing these cuts, as the Republicans are literally stealing from our programs in order to give to the wealthy.
The event featured many local groups, as reported on by WGLT. Rachel Shively represented the Illinois Single Payer Coalition in announcing our local campaign for Medicare for All.
M4All in the News – January 2025
We’ll be sharing articles and information shared with us by our statewide coalition, the Illinois Single Payer Coalition. In December and January, Medicare for All was in the news as millions of Americans shared the pain they have experienced with our failed medical insurance system. Please read and share! In solidarity, Corey
Claudia Fegan: “Americans Are Angry about Their Health Insurance: The Movement for Single-Payer Healthcare,” in Common Dreams.
Bernie Sanders: “This Is Some of What We Must Do to Reform Our Dysfunctional Healthcare System,” in The Guardian.
Julie Conley: “RFK Jr Refuses to Say Healthcare Is a Human Right at Confirmation Hearing,” in Common Dreams.
Michael Sainato: “‘It’s a death sentence’: US Health Insurance System Is Failing, Say Doctors,” in the Guardian
“Wall Street Is Jacking Up The Cost Of Your Doctor Visits,” in The Lever.
Wendell Potter: “CFPB’s Landmark Rule on Medical Debt: A Victory for American Families,” in Healthcare un-covered.
Kay Tillow, Judy Albert, Claire M. Cohen, Ed Grystar, Ana Malinow: “Improved Medicare for All Can Heal This Sick Country!” in Common Dreams.
IL Cities for Single Payer Campaign
A few of us members in the Bloomington-Normal area are recommitting ourselves to working for Medicare for All, and we chose ISPC’s IL Cities for Single Payer Campaign as our principal work to organize ourselves. We would like to work on passing pro-M4A resolutions in Bloomington and Normal, and other cities if possible, but we also want to use this organizing-from-below as means to build a pro-Medicare for All constituency in central Illinois.
In past conversations with local officials in Bloomington, it was asked why we would urge a local resolution for a federal issue. Our answer is that not only do such resolutions show support for Medicare for All among local residents, cities across the United States are paying exorbitantly for the health insurance costs of their employees. We, the taxpayers, as well as municipal governments, have a strong interest in rationalizing the health insurance system in our country. The money freed up by a national public system could be better spent in our communities.
Getting organized
Starting with a few organizers in the Bloomington-Normal area, we are launching this website to help us coordinate our political work for Medicare for All in the central Illinois area.
Our principal work is now ISPC’s Illinois Cities for Single Payer Campaign, organizing to pass city and town resolutions in Illinois for a single payer health care system (Medicare for All). For campaign information, visit https://www.ilsinglepayer.org/ilcitiesforsp
Medicare for All - Central IL 