In 2022, Oregon voters approved Measure 111, amending the state constitution to guarantee affordable health care as a basic right for all residents. After years of planning and coalition-building, Oregon could implement its Universal Health Plan as early as fall 2027.

Faced wiht potential Medicaid cuts that could leave roughly 16 million people without coverage by 2034, a state-level universal plan could be life-saving.

While Oregon’s single-payer health care initiative faces challenges, the constitutional amendment may give it an advantage over previous state-level efforts, such as Vermont‘s Green Mountain care in the early 2010s. Learning from past campaigns and continued organizing are crucial for success.

If successful,oregon could set an example for other states. while a national campaign isn’t currently planned, organizers can learn from Oregon’s experience in advancing a bold health agenda.

What Happened in Vermont?

In 2011, Vermont’s state government began taking steps to implement a publicly funded, universal health care program.

“You almost need to make the argument impervious to money. The people fighting for single-payer are never going to outspend the insurance company, so instead they simply have to get everyone on their side.”

The initiative, known as Green Mountain Care, aimed to provide thorough, affordable health insurance to all Vermont residents, financed through a combination of taxes and federal funds according to The Commonwealth Fund. However, the plan faced notable hurdles, including concerns about financing, the economic impact on businesses, and political opposition as reported by Health Affairs.

Ultimately, in 2014, then-Governor Peter Shumlin announced that the state would not move forward with Green Mountain care, citing concerns about the affordability of the plan and the potential for negative economic consequences according to VT Digger. The failure of Green Mountain Care highlighted the challenges of implementing single-payer health care at the state level, including the need for substantial financial resources, broad political support, and careful consideration of the economic impact.

Oregon’s approach

Philip Verhoef, former president of Physicians for a national Health Plan, stressed the importance of administrative simplicity in building a viable health care system in Oregon, particularly when facing opposition from the private insurance industry.

“I assume the various private insurance companies that do business in Oregon are going to fight this tooth and nail because it’s going to effectively take them out of the game,” said Verhoef.

Advocacy groups like the Health care for All Oregon (HCAO) face a U.S.private health insurance industry worth over a trillion dollars. Community organizing, health care education, and volunteer mobilization could be crucial in passing a comprehensive and affordable universal health care plan.

Oregon could be the catalyst for universal health care across the country. This requires community effort, a deeper understanding of the inefficiencies in American health care, and the realization of a better system.

Despite potential setbacks, universal coverage could offer a solution. “You hope [that people] at least wake up and realize you can’t just keep kicking the can down the road, that this is not going to get better,” said Richter. “I’m optimistic because things are so bad. There is no other way to solve this problem.”