By Michael Danziger, Alec Feuerbach and Kelsey Sklar, February 20, 2019

Medical students begin their training with optimism and a desire to help others. If we didn't, there would be no point in subjecting ourselves to such grueling training. As students, we have a unique view of the health care system: as outsiders open to new ideas and not jaded by years of exposure, and as insiders who will soon practice within the system and want the best for our future patients. 

With this perspective, we, and many other medical students, advocate for a single-payer health care system — one in which the government, rather than private insurance companies, is solely responsible for reimbursement — both in New York with the New York Health Act and for the country as a whole.

The facts are simple: the United States spends more per capita on health care than any other country in the world and ranks last among peer nations in quality, efficiency and access. Reform is needed, but not all strategies for universal coverage are equal....

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