Welcome to the New York City Democratic Socialists of America Healthcare Working Group blog!
The working group is a home for health workers, patients, organizers, and everyone fighting for a publicly run and funded universal health system.
We are capitalizing on the momentum of Mayor Zohran Mamdani's historic campaign to build "A Health System For Our Time," one that aligns with the material needs and interests of working-class New Yorkers. We seek to bring in as many voices as possible to build a system that works for all of us–not just the 1%– by abolishing private health insurance and creating a publicly funded alternative.
Our healthcare system is failing. Insurance premiums are entirely unaffordable; our care is being delayed or denied by for-profit corporations determining what care is "necessary"; we face crippling medical debt when disaster strikes. The Trump budget cuts, Medicaid disenrollments, food stamp cutoffs, and punishing restrictions on insurance premium support are making things steadily worse—450,000 New Yorkers will be kicked off of their health insurance on July 1, 2026 with hundreds of thousands more to follow in 2027.
As socialists, we reject the notion that healthcare is a commodity to be bought and sold in a marketplace, which only produces inefficiencies and abuse. Our guiding principle is the universal provision of healthcare needs to all people, funded by the state and independent of any individual's capacity to pay. Access to healthcare should be as routine as our use of public streets, fire departments, and drinking water — things we fund collectively and use as needed.
A solution is within reach: the New York Health Act, which would abolish private health insurance in New York State and create a publicly run program. Under NYHA, there are no premiums, no copays, no out-of-pocket deductibles, and no prior authorization. Long-term care is fully covered as are dental, vision, and drug costs. State legislators have proposed NYHA for over 30 years and got it passed in the state assembly three times. It has wide support within the state legislature as well as the backing of a massive coalition of community partners.
To win, we will follow the Zohran campaign organizing blueprint: talk to people, affirm their economic reality, offer an inspiring solution, and make it fun and meaningful by connecting, working, and fighting alongside fellow New Yorkers hoping for a better future.
This platform will track our progress towards our goals, highlight news and perspectives relevant to the cause, and promote diverse voices at the frontline of NYC healthcare.
We will feature the experiences of patients, the disabled, people who require care and those who provide it, healthcare workers, and other working people.
We want to build a mass movement for a healthy society and a Healthcare System for Our Time that is truly universal.
We're inspired by everyone around our city fighting for change. We hope you'll join us.