Social Workers Support Universal Health Care

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) supports a national health care policy that ensures universal access to health and mental health care for all Americans.

It is estimated that there are nearly 40 million uninsured people in the United States with that number increasing annually. Millions more are underinsured with limited access to health care as a result of factors that include geography, socio-economics, immigrant status, or the clear absence of social policy to provide coverage.

According to NASW President, Terry Mizrahi, PhD, “Everyone should have equal health care coverage—including those with low incomes or those without employer-provided health benefits.“

“Many low-income families find themselves at an income level too high to receive federal benefits, but at the same time their income is too low to afford the high premiums of private insurance,” she adds.

Recruitment and retention of professional social workers in health and mental health organizations are also a priority for NASW. The provision of professional social work services along the entire health care continuum is a key component of high quality comprehensive health and mental health care.

Finally, NASW supports universal health care coverage that prevents illness and disability, maintains optimal health, ameliorates the effects of unavoidable incapacities, and provides long-term and end-of-life care, ultimately giving all patients and their families necessary and appropriate care and benefits.

NASW has been a leader in national health care reform since its inception in 1955. In the 1992-1994 national health debate led by President Clinton, NASW had its own Congressional bill that included a comprehensive health care plan along with a cost-benefit analysis.

For more information on NASW policies regarding universal health care please contact Francesca Fierro O’Reilly at fforeilly@naswdc.org.

For media outlets: To speak with a social worker about this issue, please contact NASW Public Affairs at 202-336-8228.

The National Association of Social Workers (NASW), in Washington, DC, is the largest membership organization of professional social workers with 153,000 members. It promotes, develops and protects the practice of social work and social workers. NASW also seeks to enhance the well being of individuals, families and communities through its work and through its advocacy.