Nurses and Congress Rally for ACA Subsidies and Medicare for All

Union Nurses and Lawmakers Rally for Health Care Reform in D.C.

Nurses from the National Nurses United (NNU), the largest union of registered nurses in the United States, are set to converge on Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, Dec. 3. They will be accompanied by congressional allies and community supporters to advocate for crucial changes in the U.S. health care system.

The event will feature a rally with speeches, after which participants will proceed to a location adjacent to the White House, where a new ballroom is under construction. The central demands are for Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax subsidies before the year ends and to push for the implementation of Medicare for All.

Failure to act on the ACA subsidies could lead to a significant increase in marketplace premiums by 2026, affecting over 20 million Americans. Moreover, the absence of Medicare for All means countless individuals will continue without assured access to essential health care services.

Event Details:

Participants: Union nurses, allies, and members of Congress including Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Rep. Ro Khanna

Event: Rally and march advocating for ACA subsidies and Medicare for All

Date and Time: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 12 p.m.

Location: Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C.

"One of the hardest parts about being a nurse in the U.S. is hearing from patients that they can’t afford the treatment they need," stated Mary Turner, RN and president of NNU. "Nurses go into this work to help people, but we are confronted every day with the ways our health care system is broken. Ideally, someday, we will provide health care as a human right. Right now, extending the ACA tax subsidies is critical to ensuring our existing health care system doesn’t deteriorate. Longterm, Medicare for All is essential to ensuring the health of every single patient."

Turner further emphasized the financial strain that increased premiums could impose on working families, stating, "This is about protecting working families from the economic devastation these increased premiums will create. Too many patients already struggle to get the care they need, and gouging people for insurance money only makes them more hesitant to seek out health care. We’re tired of patients being worried about affording health care."

NNU, representing over 225,000 registered nurses, is a staunch advocate for Medicare for All. This single-payer health care proposal aims to eliminate health care disparities, manage costs effectively, and ensure universal access to high-quality care as a fundamental human right.