Advocates of Medicare for All are burying the lead, did you know it includes dental coverage? New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera comes to the front of the class to breakdown the detailed aspects of the widely supported policy and discuss how states can adopt universal healthcare coverage.

There are a lot of terms thrown around in the debate over healthcare, here are a few;

* Universal Coverage: The ultimate goal is for everyone to have health insurance.
* Single-Payer: A category of healthcare coverage in which the government provides insurance to everyone and pays the bills.
* Public Option: A government run insurance plan is offered in addition to private health insurance plans.
* Medicare for All: One of many policy proposals to achieve universal coverage that would create a national health insurance program in which everyone is covered and the government is the single payer.

Our Guest: @NYSenatorRivera
New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico. In 1998, Gustavo graduated from the University of Puerto Rico and moved to New York to begin a doctoral program in political science at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. A proud Bronxite, he has lived in Kingsbridge Heights for almost 20 years.

He has represented the 33rd Senate District in the Bronx since November of 2010. The 33rd Senate District includes the neighborhoods of Kingsbridge Heights, East Tremont, Crotona Park, Fordham, Mount Hope, Belmont, Van Nest, Claremont, and Morris Park.

Since taking office, Senator Rivera has focused his efforts on addressing issues of health inequity both legislatively and on the ground. In 2011, Senator Rivera launched the Bronx CAN (Changing Attitudes Now) Health Initiative. The goal of this community oriented health initiative is not only to encourage Bronx residents to develop healthy behaviors, but to shape policies that will help tear down some of the institutional barriers that stand in the way of Bronxites having a healthier lifestyle.

Reading List

* What is Single Payer? - Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP)
* Medicare for All: What Is It and How Will It Work? - Healthline
* Medicare-for-All Is Not Medicare, and Not Really for All. So What Does It Actually Mean? - ProPublica