They're #Forced to Beg #Strangers for #Help With #Medical #Bills

1 in 3 GoFundMe donations go toward funding health care costs. We shouldn't have to beg for our health care. Sign Now Dear friends, Imagine being diagnosed with cancer, but your greatest worry not being about beating the disease, but instead about whether your illness will bankrupt your entire family. For too many Americans, a health scare — whether it's as life-altering as cancer or as simple as a broken leg — means impossibly high hospital bills and even causes financial ruin. In fact, right now one-third of the money donated through the crowdfunding website GoFundMe goes towards paying health care bills. Out of sheer desperation, people are turning to total strangers over the internet and begging for help with paying these skyrocketing expenses. This fact is especially horrifying given how many other countries around the world have universal health care. Their health systems are not only much less expensive per person, but also leave their citizens with a higher life expectancy than the average American. The Affordable Care Act was an important first step in ensuring that every American has access to the health care they need, but it's not nearly enough. This is especially true now that the current presidential administration is attacking and undermining this landmark health legislation at every turn. Our health shouldn't depend on how many likes we can get on Facebook. And accessing treatment shouldn't bankrupting ourselves or our families. Maintaining both our health and our financial solvency shouldn't be left up to Twitter retweets. This ought to be the job of the government, not of random kind strangers. Add your name to the petition calling on the U.S. Congress to create a single-payer, public health care option for all Americans now! Thank you for all that you do,   Ellen B. The Care2 Petitions Team P.S. Affordable, universal single-payer health care is possible. In fact, it already exists for millions upon millions of people around the world. It's time for the U.S. to follow suit and stop leaving people to beg for life-saving medical treatments.