The Maine Legislature recently reviewed the All Maine Health Act, a bill to provide publicly funded health care for all Mainers. Forty-six people, including me, testified in support, outlining how our current system fails us and providing evidence that publicly funded universal health care is the best solution to the growing crisis.

Disappointingly, the committee voted against the bill, as explained in the June 28 op-ed “Maine blew an opportunity to repair its health care system,” written by Dr. Daniel Bryant.

Our efforts cannot stop there. Over 50,000 Mainers are uninsured, a number sure to grow after federal cuts to Medicare and Medicaid. And, for those with private insurance, we all know that is no guarantee of access. When insurance is run for profit, companies are incentivized to hike premiums and deny as much care as possible to boost profits.

The alternative? A system built by us, for us, to ensure we all get the care we need. Imagine the growth we’d see in our local economy, the wealth that would stay in Maine, if the greedy private insurance companies were taken out of the picture.

Maine has long upheld a reputation for leadership. Our motto, Dirigo, as we all know, means “I lead.” This initiative offers us a chance to lead the nation in providing quality, affordable care to all. In a country founded on the ideals of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, we can lead in making the first of those ideals a guarantee.

Mae Brosseau
Orono