For Immediate Release:

Coalition of Groups Calls on Rep. Andy Kim to Co-Sponsor the Medicare for All Act of 2021

 21 groups with membership in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District Send letter making the case for Medicare For All.

Hamilton, N.J. – A coalition of over 20 groups with members in New Jersey’s third congressional district sent a letter to Rep. Andy Kim (D – Moorestown) yesterday, calling on him to co-sponsor the Medicare For All Act of 2021 in Congress.

“While NJ-3 as a whole is one of the wealthier districts in New Jersey, there is still a significant uninsured population in localities like Freehold Borough (uninsured rate of 23.2%), Hightstown (uninsured rate of 20.2%) and East Windsor (uninsured rate of 10.9%). According to census data, at least 34,757 people are uninsured in your district. The highest uninsured rates are reported among people of color, small-business workers, people with low incomes, and young adults,” the letter states.

In New Jersey, the call for Congress to support Medicare for All is getting louder. In February, Mercer County became the latest among fourteen other jurisdictions in New Jersey to send a message to the congressional delegation that guaranteed healthcare is needed now more than ever.

Additionally, members of the New Jersey congressional delegation, including Frank Pallone (D – Long Branch), Chairman on the House Energy and Commerce Committee,  Donald Norcross (D – Camden), Bonnie Watson-Colman (D – Ewing), and Donald Payne (D – Newark) have signed on in support of Medicare for All.

In 2020, over half a million New Jersey residents did not have any form of health insurance.  Even for those who do have it, many still struggle to pay their medical bills, effectively barring access to relief for many.

Medicare for All will end premiums, lower prescription costs, and expand coverage to cover hearing, dental, and vision. We can eliminate the choice between putting food on the table or paying for insulin. We won’t have to think twice about calling an ambulance because we cannot afford the ambulance ride.

The letter is signed by: New Jersey Universal Healthcare Coalition, Our Revolution Trenton-Mercer, Bend the Arc Jewish Action: South Jersey, Cooper River Indivisible, South Jersey Progressive Democrats, Monmouth County Democratic Progressive Caucus, Latino Action Network Foundation, New Jersey Environmental Council, Cosecha New Jersey, Wind of the Spirit, Casa Freehold, Make the Road NJ, People’s Organization for Progress, NJ State Industrial Union Council, Greater New Jersey Pride at Work, Latino Coalition of NJ, Pharmacists for Single Payer, Latina Civic Action, Our Revolution Monmouth County, Sts. Stephen & Barnabas Episcopal Church, Florence – Fr. Priest in Charge Ryan Paetzold, and South Jersey NOW – Alice Paul Chapter.

You can read the full letter HERE. 

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