RELEASE: REP. RO KHANNA AND SENATOR ED MARKEY REINTRODUCE THE STATE-BASED UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE ACT
Washington, DC – This week, Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17) and Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) reintroduced the State-Based Universal Health Care Act. Understanding the growing need in America for quality healthcare and the unique ability of American states to lead the push toward universal healthcare, Rep. Khanna and Senator Markey’s bill provides states with federal funding streams and regulatory flexibility to support affordable, universal health care plans.
Nearly 70% of Americans support a public health insurance option. Washington, Nevada, Colorado, and Minnesota have each passed a version of a public health insurance option. The State-Based Universal Health Care Act creates a waiver granting states the ability to curate and provide state-specific health care plans for residents via access to federal funding streams and flexible regulations. To apply for the waiver, participating states or groups of states must propose plans to provide health care coverage for 95 percent of their residents within five years.
The State-Based Universal Health Care Act also requires benefits provided under state plans be equal to or greater than what federal beneficiaries receive now. An independent panel of health care experts and officials would evaluate whether a state's proposal meets the requirements and would then provide a public recommendation of waiver application approval or rejection to the Secretary of Health and Human Services.
“State-based universal health care will help fix a broken system that has left far too many Americans subject to the crushing weight of medical debt. By providing coverage to millions of Americans, we can build a stronger path toward Medicare for All and protect health care as a human right. I’m honored to join my colleague Senator Ed Markey (D-Mass) in introducing this legislation that will deliver quality, affordable care to ordinary Americans,” said Representative Ro Khanna (CA-17).
“With the passage of Trump’s Big Ugly Bill, Republicans chose to put corporate wealth over the public’s health. We must fight for a system that cannot be raided by billionaires, that doesn’t charge too much for too little, leave people in debt, burn out health providers, and deny the high quality, unlimited care that people deserve. The State-Based Universal Health Care Act would allow states to pave the way toward a system that is not driven by profit, but by people’s health. It’s time we create a system that protects access to high quality, affordable care and moves us closer to the reality of Medicare for All,” said Senator Ed Markey (D-MA).
“It is criminal that in the richest country on Earth, Americans die and suffer because they can’t get the health care they need, while private insurance companies rake in billions of dollars. As we continue to build toward Medicare for All at the federal level, the State-Based Universal Health Care Act is a critical step to provide millions more Americans with high quality and affordable care. Thank you to Representative Khanna and Senator Markey for leading this important legislation,” said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07).
“Our job as leaders is to be ready with a new way forward, when the healthcare system collapses in the next few years here. I believe that way is through a universal health care system with a single public payer, be it at the state level or the federal level. We must ensure the freedom for Americans to choose to change jobs without worrying about losing their coverage. The freedom to start a new business! Isn't that the American way? With Medicare for All, we'll be able to get more care for less cost and it'll be easier for the patients, and that's who we really should be thinking of nonstop,” State Representative Carrie A. Rheingans (Ann Arbor, MI, House District 47).
“I’m proud to stand with my colleagues in D.C. who have introduced a brilliant bill to enable states to establish universal healthcare systems with support from the federal government. I assure my fellow New Yorkers that we could establish a single payer system through the NY Health Act without a federal waiver, but the State-Based Universal Health Care Act would make that process far more seamless and ultimately, make healthcare more accessible and affordable and fix our broken healthcare system,” said New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera.
“To keep our country moving forward we must reimagine the future of health care access. Having one payment system that covers all people just makes sense. It would be more cost effective, cover more people, save businesses and families money and help our providers deliver care by not being tied up with administrative burdens. The SBUHC Act will open up more opportunities for states to start down this road and I’m excited about the future of fixing our broken healthcare payment system with a One Payer system,” said State Representative Karen McCormick (Longmont, CO, House District 11).
“Health insurance monopolies have created a stupidly complex health care system to guarantee exorbitant profits for Wall Street at the expense of the hard-working people who call the USA home. To meet their shareholders’ profit expectations, those monopolies kick more and more doctors and hospitals out of their networks every year, jack up our premiums and make us all pay money out of our own pockets before they’ll pay a dime – money many families just don’t have – and in many cases, they refuse to pay even a dime for treatments and medications we need. States should be allowed to build a better system for the USA — one that is Universal, Simple and Affordable. This bill would let them do that,” said Wendell Potter, President of the Center for Health and Democracy.
"Representative Khanna's and Senator Markey’s reintroduction of the State-Based Universal Health Care Act (SBUHCA) of 2025 provides a golden opportunity for Congress to promote innovative state efforts to establish world-class healthcare programs. Efficient-and-effective, patient-centered, practitioner-friendly, state-based healthcare systems to improve lives, save dollars, and model solutions for other states and the nation. Through the provisioning of waivers for federal healthcare dollars and legal protections for qualifying states, SBUHCA represents the highest tradition in American economic, social, and political reform: state innovation and experimentation as the birthplace of best ideas and practices for the United States,” said Chuck Pennacchio, President of One Payer States.
“The State Based Universal Health Care Act would allow states already poised to lead on this, like Massachusetts, California and New York, to enact cutting edge health care systems that improve access for patients while reducing wasteful spending. This bill would make it easier for every state to take the necessary steps to implement efficient single-payer health care and ensure that everyone in the state can get the care they need when they need it. Such reforms would also mean massive savings on health care costs for both states and cities. At a time that access to healthcare is under attack by greedy corporations and craven politicians, this bill would allow states to implement single-payer health care and show a path to finally achieving guaranteed universal health care in the U.S.,” said Eagan Kemp, Health Care Policy Advocate at Public Citizen.
The full bill can be viewed here
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