Single-Payer Health Care is a plan that would provide every American quality, comprehensive health care regardless of pre-existing condition. It is called single-payer because all expenses would be paid through one publicly administered pool. Single-Payer combines the best ideas of the left and the right — publicly funded, but privately driven by the consumers (patients) and their doctor.

As Congress addresses the health care crisis in this country, please take the time to contact them and tell them you support House Resolution (HR) 676 — legislation that will create a universal, single-payer system to guarantee health care for all Americans.

HR 676 will provide: n Automatic coverage for life for everyone, even if you lose your job or move. Your health care is no longer tied to your employment.n Comprehensive medical services including prescription drugs, dental, vision, mental health, and long term care. No co-pays, no deductibles.n Assures your choice of doctor and hospital.n Eliminates the administrative waste of private insurance companies who spend 30 cents of every health care dollar for CEO salaries, profits, and paper work, mostly to deny you needed care.n Puts you and your doctor — not insurance companies — in control of your health care.

HR 676 and health care reform are the only real economic stimuluses we have. The number one factor affecting an American company’s ability to meet their bottom line and remain competitive in the global economy is the outrageous health insurance premiums they pay for their employees.

HR 676 would be funded through a 6.6 percent payroll tax. Currently, it costs an individual $8,000 annually to buy private health insurance with a $2,000 deductible — no dental, vision, or prescription coverage. Under HR 676, only individuals making well over $100,000 a year would even get close to paying $8,000 and it would be for far better coverage.

As more and more companies drop their employer-provided plans and more retirees’ benefit packages fail, the 6.6 percent payroll tax becomes an attractive bargain.

President Barack Obama said if he were building the health care system from scratch, a single-payer system would be the best approach. Sen. Russ Feingold said he’d support a single-payer system over our current system, which he called a “mess.” However, both President Obama and Sen. Feingold recognize that our nation has a long tradition of health care through private insurance companies and that trying to eliminate their influence is an almost insurmountable task.

This is why it is imperative for each of us to contact our president, senators, congresspersons and all other elected officials stating our support for a single-payer system. They need our help to overcome the powerful, well funded lobbyists working against single-payer.

Health care reform is the civil rights movement of our time; it will require all of us who believe in a national single-payer system to stand up and ask those who are opposed to kindly step aside.

Paulette Garin, a 2008 Democratic congressional candidate, is currently serving as the Wisconsin State Coordinator for the National Single-Payer Alliance (Leadership Conference for Guaranteed Health Care).