One of the Actions of Immediate Witness (AIW) passed at the 2022 Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) General Assembly was Stop the Privatization of Medicare. This AIW opposes the implementation of the ACO-REACH program and privatized Medicare Advantage plans and calls on: 

  • The UUA to contact program officials and implore them not to allow the implementation of ACO-REACC and the continuation of privatized Medicare Advantage plans, and urging them to support a Medicare for All Program such as those introduced by Senator Sanders and Representative Jayapal;
  • UU congregations and UU-related organizations and their members to contact program officials, as well as to write their legislators to do what they can to see that ACO-REACH and privatized Medicare Advantage plans cease.
  • UU Congregations and UU-related organizations and their members to join National Nurses United, Healthcare-NOW!, and Physicians for a National Health Program in fighting for a truly universal healthcare coverage for all.

Why these actions? 

“There is a concerted effort to privatize Medicare, to enroll people in private practices without their understanding or consenting to what is happening—in practices in which medical practitioners in private businesses can refuse needed care and reap profits. This can happen despite individuals consciously and deliberatively choosing the original Medicare, which does not have the same limitations. Although the Trump Administration’s Direct Contracting Entity (DCE) Program, which privatized care, was cancelled by the Biden Administration, a similar new program is proposed to take effect on January 1, 2023. It is called ACO-REACH (Accountability Care Organization-Realizing Equality, Access and Community). It would allow third-party middlemen to manage senior care, enrolling seniors in for-profit programs without their understanding and consent—programs that will often profit the providers while denying seniors the care that they need. Similar privatization practices are currently occurring in many Medical Advantage plans. Seniors should scrutinize them carefully before they enroll.” 

Why are we called to support this AIW? 

This AIW is grounded in our beliefs: 

  • in the inherent worth and dignity of every person;
  • that we have at least some responsibility to help make that belief a reality;
  • in love; and
  • that loving other people requires us to act in loving ways.

“Compared to other Developed nations, our nation ranks lowest in health care; and has the lowest life expectancy and the highest infant mortality; in 2019 spent about $11,000 per person on health care while other comparable nations spent an average of $5500; and profoundly limits access to health care by income inequality. It is imperative that we have Medicare for all: 

  • an improved public Medicare system that would provide quality health care for all U.S. residents at a lower cost to individuals and our nation;
  • and would include dental, eye, hearing and mental health care;
  • as has been described in bills introduced by Senator Sanders (SB 4204) and Representative Jayapal (HB1976).“

Here are some of the ways you can live into this AIW and our UU values: 

  • Contact The Honorable Xavier Becerra, Secretary, U.S. Department of Health and Human services and The Honorable Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Administrator, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, imploring them not to allow the implementation of ACO-REACC and the continuation of privatized Medicare Advantage plans, and urging them to support a Medicare for All Program such as those introduced by Senator Sanders and Representative Jayapal;
  • Write to your legislators to do what they can to see that ACO-REACH and privatized Medicare Advantage plans cease.
  • Join with the National Nurses United, Healthcare-NOW! And Physicians for a National Health Program to fight for truly universal healthcare coverage for all.

Taking actions will help to secure the worth and dignity of each U.S. resident.