Single-Payer Health Care on Ballot in 20 Districts

In addition to the statewide ballot questions, the ballot in 20 state Representative districts will have a non-binding ballot question on legislation to create a single-payer health care system in Massachusetts.

That question is sponsored by MassCare, the coalition supporting single-payer health care; LWVMA is a member of that coalition.

The question reads:  “Shall the Representative from this District be instructed to vote for legislation to create a single payer system of universal health care that provides all Massachusetts residents with comprehensive health care coverage including the freedom to choose doctors and other health care professionals, facilities, and services, and eliminates the role of insurance companies in health care by creating an insurance trust fund that is publicly administered?”

This is a non-binding ballot question, but the results will let state Representatives know if their constituents support a single-payer system. 

The question will be on the ballot in these Representative districts:  2^nd Berkshire; 6^th, 7^th, 8^th and 12^th Hampden; 2^nd Franklin; 12^th Worcester; 4^th, 14^th, 23^rd, 25^th, 33^rd, 34^th, and 35^th Middlesex; 12^th, 13^th, and 15^th Suffolk; 1^st Essex; 3^rd Plymouth; and 3^rd Norfolk.

If you live in one of those districts, or want to help in a neighboring district, you can volunteer to work on the campaign from now through the November 8 election by signing up here on the MassCare website. Tasks include door-to-door canvassing, passing out literature, phone banking and text banking.  For more information, see the website. 

LWVMA has been supporting legislation to create a single-payer health care program in Massachusetts for years, and it was a priority bill at Day on the Hill in the current session.  You can see our testimony on this legislation here.