TL/DR –
National Nurses United (NNU), the largest nurses union in the U.S., held a protest at Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C., alongside allies and members of Congress, calling for health care funding. Nurses called on Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax subsidies and implement Medicare for All to prevent an increase in ACA marketplace premiums for over 20 million people in 2026 and ensure care for millions more without access. Various speakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representatives Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal, emphasized the broken healthcare system and echoed calls for Medicare for All.
National Nurses United (NNU) Call for U.S. Health Care Funding
National Nurses United (NNU), the nation’s top nurses union, staged a protest in Washington, D.C. on December 3. Joined by congress members and supporters, the protest called for an increase in healthcare funding. Click to see photos from the rally and march.
The nurses implored Congress to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) tax subsidies before the year ends, and then adopt Medicare for All. Without action, ACA marketplace premiums will rise sharply in 2026 for over 20 million people. Moreover, without Medicare for All, many patients will lack guaranteed access to essential care.
Demands for Medicare for All
NNU President, Mary Turner, voiced her concerns about patients struggling to afford care. She urged Congress to extend ACA subsidies and implement Medicare for All – a single-payer health care system. This would assure equal access to excellent healthcare as a human right, end health disparities, and effectively control costs.
Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep. Ro Khanna, and Rep. Pramila Jayapal also echoed the call for Medicare for All during their speeches at the protest, highlighting the shortcomings and price inequities of the current healthcare system.
Voices from the Protest
Megan Essaheb, Director of Federal Affairs for People’s Action, warned of potential political consequences if the healthcare crisis isn’t addressed. Paul Osadebe, an organizer and steward at AFGE Local 476, called for the restoration and protection of ACA, stressing its importance to millions of lives. Physician representative, Alankrita Olson, underscored the need for sustainable reform through Medicare for All.
Representing over 225,000 nurses nationwide, NNU advocates for health care reforms and patients’ rights. Their protest meshes with their broader goal of ensuring affordable, comprehensive healthcare for all.
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