Editor:

With the struggle about healthcare continuing, the strengths of a single-payer system are visibly impressive. The Healthy California Act, Senate Bill 562, will cover everything Obamacare covers for every resident of California (Mailbox, July 13). Coverage will include dental, mental, vision, lab tests, substance abuse treatment, medical equipment, dialysis, emergency services, rehab, care in a skilled nursing facility, home health care, hospice, chiropractic, acupuncture, adult day health care, approved alternative and complementary medicine, and lower costs for prescription drugs.

The $40 billion difference between what California can expect to receive from federal and state funding and what is needed can be covered by modest tax increases — at the same time, premiums, deductibles, co-pays and out-of-pocket expenses are eliminated. Individuals would pay a 2.3 percent sales tax (excluding housing, utilities and groceries). Most families will save up to 9 percent on health care.

The study by the University of Massachusetts-Amherst Political Economy Research Institute also concluded businesses with less than 10 employees would save 22 percent on healthcare costs; large companies with 500 employees could save 6 percent.

Please thank state Sen. Mike McGuire for co-sponsoring SB 562, (916) 651-4002 or [email protected]. Assemblyman Jim Wood says he supports the concept of single-payer but not this bill. He needs to know we strongly support healthcare for all; please encourage him, (916) 319-2002 or [email protected].

Anthony Rendon, the speaker of the Assembly, stopped the work on this bill until 2018 and he's been vague about his reasons. Please tell him to let the amendment process and the resulting fleshing out of the bill proceed. Even though we're not in his district, we can call him, (562) 529-3250.

We can take care of each other by strongly supporting this legislation. Together we can make California a safer, better place to live.

Lynn Robbins, Eureka