American Health Security Act of 2009

The American Health Security Act of 2009 is a single payer health care bill introduced by Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. According to journalist and health care reform advocate John Nichols, Under the American Health Security Act of 2009 "Patients could seek care from the doctor or hospital of their choice; The new national health care program would be paid for by combining current sources of government health spending into a single fund with modest new taxes amounting to less than what people now pay for insurance premiums and out-of-pocket expenses; Funding would come from the federal government, but the program would be administered by the states; The high overhead and profits of the private, investor-owned insurance industry would be eliminated, along with the burdensome paperwork imposed on physicians and other providers. As a result, the plan would save at least $400 billion annually - enough money to provide comprehensive, quality care to all."