Welcome
This is the home on the web of Chicago's pro-single-payer movement. We are a group of ordinary citizens that all share the belief that the current health care system is broken, and that the best way to fix it is to establish a publicly run Health Services Board that replaces private insurers as the payers of medical costs.
Although the term "single-payer" has become more and more common in recent months, many people still may be unfamiliar with it. We encourage you to explore the links on the left to learn more about the system that we sincerely believe can save both lives and dollars.
Be sure to check back often to check for updates about meetings and upcoming events!
Join CSPAN's Mailing List to get info about meetings, events and news! Just fill in the fields below and click 'Submit'.
Or email us at chisinglepayer@gmail.com
Recent News and Announcements
09/23/2008 - Rally for Healthcare Justice!
Tuesday, September 23rd
4-6 p.m.
at Humana (for-profit) Insurance Company
550 W. Adams
Vigils and rallies are being held across the country in observance of Single-Payer HEALTHCARE JUSTICE WEEK (September 22nd-28th, 2008).
These events uphold a deeply important time for those who have lost someone to the broken U.S. healthcare system, or who are still fighting the denials of the for-profit health insurance companies.
Join us in Chicago at a rally in front of Humana, the for-profit insurance company as we protest profit in the healthcare system.
HEALTHCARE IS A HUMAN RIGHT.
SINGLE-PAYER, universal healthcare is the only way to ensure that every person has access to healthcare.
The number of deaths due to insufficient healthcare in the wealthiest of all nations is a grim reminder of the scope of the healthcare crisis. The Urban Institute estimates that 22,000 adults died in 2006 because they did not have heath insurance. A 2008 study published in Health Affairs Journal analyzed the health systems of 19 countries. The study found that the United States had the highest rate of preventable deaths before the age of 75. The study concluded that as many as 101,000 deaths a year could be prevented by ensuring that all patients receive quality care in a timely manner.
Sponsored by CSPAN (Chicago Single Payer Action Network), California Nurses Association (CNA)/NNOC, American Patients United, American Medical Students Association (AMSA), Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), Illinois Single-Payer Coalition (ISPC), AFSCME Local #2858, LULAC Council #5273, International Socialist Organization (ISO), Islamic Network of Clinicians and University Students (INCUS), Progressive Democrats of America (PDA), Socialist Action, Move to Better Health Care (Evanston), Access Living... (List in formation)
Speakers will include Steve Skvara, retired steelworker, who made headlines when he asked, "What's wrong with America and what will you do to change it?"
08/14/2008 - Open letter to Health Care for America Now (HCAN)
To the dismay of our organization, the Chicago Single-Payer Action Network (CSPAN), your organization, Health Care For America Now (HCAN), has rejected a single-payer, government-run health care system as a solution to the health care crisis in the is country. Instead your website proposes this: "We're offering a bold new solution that gives you real choice and a guarantee of quality coverage you can afford: keep your current private insurance plan, pick a new private insurance plan, or join a public health insurance plan." There is nothing bold or new about this so-called solution to the health care crisis in this country. In fact, the patch-work, hybrid approach to fixing health care has failed over and over again. The proof: 50 million uninsured, millions under-insured, and the leading cause of personal bankruptcy is medical bills. And most shockingly, it's estimated that 18,000 people die every year because they lack access to health care. Read More...
08/02/2008 - Rally for Single-Payer Health Care to be Part of the Democratic Party Platform!*
Saturday, August 2
1-3 p.m.
at the Democratic National Committee (DNC) offices
233 N. Michigan (just north of Millenium Park)
Polls indicate health care continues to be one of the key domestic issues for people. They are tightly tied to other key economic issues -- skyrocketing gas and food prices and job loss -- leading into Election Day.
One in four people cited paying medical bills, "as a serious problem" and these costs are projected to increase 10% over just the next year! And access just got worse -- the New York Times just reported 75 million people in the U.S. are either under- or uninsured!
Last week Democratic Presidential candidate Barack Obama said the health care system in this country "is broken." We completely agree! So, what is the solution? We think a single-payer system. We need to eliminate the health insurance companies -- with their drive for profits through super-inflated costs and denying patient's claims.
There's no room for hybrid solutions or "half-measures." Certainly not for ANYTHING which puts more burden on ordinary working people. We need single-payer because it would cover everyone from cradle to grave at the cost of a minimal payroll tax, like we have for public services like the fire department. We think we deserve nothing less!
With the Democratic National Convention approaching August 25-28 in Denver, CO, the Illinois single-payer movement demands our solution to the health care crisis be put on the Party's platform coming from our state. This is the type of change we think we should see.
Please join us to tell them this! Our voices need to be heard!
*This demonstration is part of events around the country celebrating the 43rd anniversary of Medicare. Please see www.healthcare-now! for more information on these actions.
Sponsors include: Chicago Single-Payer Action Network (CSPAN), National Nurses Organizing Committee (NNOC), and Physicians for National Health Program (PHNP) with list still in formation.
02/03/2008 - Here are two great videos related to single-payer (one about the national legislation for single-payer, the other about the single-payer movement in Chicago):
"HR676 - The Single Payer Solution, Part 1 of 4"
"Labor Beat - SINGLE PAYER: THE SIMMERING STRUGGLE"
About the above video:
The leading slate of Democratic Party Presidential candidates have proposed free-market answers to the health insurance tragedies most of us know are caused by the for-profit nature of the American health care system.
Since the release of Michael Moore's film SiCKO in 2007, the debate about the lack of access to health care has come to the fore. A national movement has sprung up to demand that the United States adopt a "single-payer," government-sponsored system like those in much of the industrial world. In this episode of Labor Beat, we feature the dynamics of that growing movement in Chicago, including actions by the National Nurses Organizing Committee/California Nurses Association and the Chicago Single-Payer Action Network, in 2007 and 2008. The episode runs 29 minutes.
To see in full quality, watch it on CAN TV, Chicago cable TV Channel 19:
Thurs., Feb. 7, 9:30 pm
Fri., Feb 8, 4:30 pm
Thurs., Feb. 14, 9:30 pm
Fri., Feb. 15, 4:30 pm
To order a DVD: $15 by PayPal, go to www.laborbeat.org and fill out the form with your mailing address, and title of the DVD - "Single-Payer: The Simmering Struggle." You can also order by sending a check for $15 to:
Labor Beat
37 S. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60607.
Produced by Labor Beat. Labor Beat is a CAN TV Community Partner.
01/11/2008 - Below are some of the things ChiSPAN is currently working on. We welcome participation and ideas from everyone! Simply come to our next meeting or call us at 312.714.5154.
- We are planning local Actions along with Single-Payer groups across the country in solidarity with national Single-Payer organization Healthcare-NOW!.
- We are going on a tour of public libraries with Michael Moore's film about the US health care system, SiCKO.
- We are partnering with AMSA (American Medical Students Association) to give Single-Payer presentations to businesses and organizations.
01/11/2008 - Rally against insurance giant Cigna and in support of the Health Care for All Illinois Act (HB 311) in honor of the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The demonstration will take place Tuesday, January 15, at 4:30 p.m. in front of Cigna Headquarters, 525 West Monroe, at Canal St. The demonstration is sponsored by the National Nurses Organizing Committee, Health Care for All Illinois, Physicians for a National Health Program, and Chicago Single Payer Action Network.
Speakers include:
- Rep Mary Flowers - Chair of the Illinois House Health Committee and Chief Sponsor of HB 311
- John Laesch (invited) - Single-Payer Supporter and Candidate for Congress (14th District)
- Helen Redmond and Elizabeth Lalasz - Chicago Single Payer Action Network
01/10/2008 - It's a new year and ChiSPAN is excited to continue fighting for our health care justice!
11/23/2007 - ChiSPAN will be putting on a free viewing of Michael Moore's SiCKO on December 4th at 6 PM. Click here for more info.
10/14/2007 - Al Gore announced his support for a national single-payer system. In a video posted on current.com, Al Gore states unequivocally, "I strongly support universal, single-payer, government provided or government funded health care". As a recent Nobel Prize winner and environmental activist, ChiSPAN applauds Gore's endorsement.
Click the image below to run the video.