Enough is enough.

Join Buffalo's chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America on May Day to kick off our campaign for statewide single payer with a street canvas outside of HighMark Blue Cross Blue Shield CEO David Anderson's condo in the Avant Building. In 2020, the year of COVID-19's economic devastation, he made $2.8 million.

He bought this condo for more than half a million dollars ($535,000) funded by our insurance premiums, deductibles, and other charges, in 2013. Anderson makes more money in 4 days ($43,397) than the average Buffalo family makes in a year ($37,359).

Our healthcare system makes workers entirely dependent on our employers, competing with instead of in solidarity with each other. But we know the truth: it's all of us against the ruling class.

We get sick, they get rich.

The 3 biggest “non-profit” health insurance companies in Buffalo ended 2020 with a combined surplus of more than $219 million.

• Excellus: $97.2 million
• HighMark: $36 million
• Independent Health: $54.7 million (largest surplus in five years)

CEOs of the 3 biggest “non-profit” health insurance companies in Buffalo were paid a combined $8 million in 2020.

• Christopher Booth (Excellus): $3.3 million
• David W Anderson (HighMark): $2.8 million
• Michael Cropp (Independent Health): $1.9 million

New York Health Act Now!

A solution we can win this summer is statewide universal single payer healthcare. That means:

• Every New York resident, and those who work in New York but live elsewhere, may enroll in the New York Health Plan.
• All services requiring a medical professional will be fully covered. You go to the doctor of your choice. Dental, vision, mental health, and pharmaceuticals are all included.
• All healthcare costs will be financed through tax contributions based on ability to pay: no copays, no fees, no deductibles and no premiums. Ever.
• Medical decisions will be made between a patient and a doctor. An insurer no longer gets a say in patient care, standing between us and our prescriptions or needed services.
• More choice, equity, and access, less administration and profit.

The New York Health Act would reduce healthcare spending by $80 billion & average healthcare costs would be lower for 90% of New Yorkers.

• According to the 2018 Rand Institute study, New Yorkers with a household compensation below $105,300 would save an average of $2,800 per person.

See you there!

• The best thing you can do after this kickoff is knock doors and canvas with us!
  • bit.ly/nyhealthact716canvas
• Complete the form at bit.ly/nyhealthact716 to contact our targeted local representatives DIRECTLY through email and tell them to pass the New York Health Act by June!
• Pledge to never support a politician who does not champion statewide single payer: with union expenditures, organizational resources, or individual donations.
  • Link to union and organization pledge: bit.ly/nyhealthact716unions
  • Link to individual pledge: bit.ly/nyhealthact716pledge