At least 18 states have introduced universal health care bills, most based on a single-payer model

By Amy Snow Landa
AMNews correspondent
Oct. 24/31, 2005

From Vermont to California, proponents of single-payer health care have been busy introducing legislation, circulating ballot petitions and broadening their coalitions — all with the hope that at least one state will enact legislation that can be used as a model for national health care reform. 

Nov. 8, 2005
On "Pride, Prejudice, Insurance": Health Care Crisis in the U.S.

Nell Farr, Elk Grove, Calif.: Your fine column contained this line: “. . . Americans too young to receive Medicare and insufficiently destitute to receive Medicaid . . .” This implies that those under 65 receive Medicaid if only they are poor enough. Many people believe this is true. It is not. Only if a person under 65 is on some Federal aid program such as AFDC or a disability program is he/she eligible for Medicaid. Others have an option of a free clinic, if available, or an E.R. for an emergency condition. However, E.R.’s only stabilize a person if further care or diagnostic work is indicated, such as a mammogram or even chemo for cancer, usually such a person is totally out of luck. They die.

The New York Times
Op-Ed Columnist
November 7, 2005
By PAUL KRUGMAN

General Motors is reducing retirees' medical benefits. Delphi has declared bankruptcy, and will probably reduce workers' benefits as well as their wages. An internal Wal-Mart memo describes plans to cut health costs by hiring temporary workers, who aren't entitled to health insurance, and screening out employees likely to have high medical bills. 

By Rob Stein
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 4, 2005