Historically, there is negative connotation attached to universal health care with the American Medicare Association calling it “socialized medicine” since the Truman Administration proposed a universal healthcare system. Early attempts at universal health care during the Progressive Era, when many European countries established the foundations for their current healthcare system. America remained suspicious of government run programs and centralized government structures leading to employee provided insurance. Presently, many people continue to tie universal health care to socialist and communist ideologies that are not typically accepted in America. However, one of DUH’s main goals is to educate the public on what universal healthcare in America really means to change the stigma attached to it. Their universal health care fact sheet states that to achieve a truly universal healthcare system the government would pay for 100% of medical costs and the access to healthcare would not depend on someone's ability to pay, however it is not free. There are several ways that have been proposed to pay for a universal healthcare system, the most popular way is through payroll deductions where everyone pays 4.75% of their income. Most of the supporters of universal healthcare are aligned on the left side of the ideological spectrum, most of which align with the Democratic party. The founders of DUH both identify as Democratic Socialists, the Democratic Socialists of America are big supporters of universal health care with it being a central part of their platform.
Demand Universal Health care was established in Chicago in 2011 as Demonstration for Universal Healthcare, it was originally not a group but an attempt at rally at the National Mall that aimed to unite single payer activists to oppose the Affordable Care Act on the grounds that it needed to be expanded to cover those who needed access to healthcare the most. However, it died bc lack of money and shot down by other single payer groups who stood behind ACA. It was re-established as a grassroots organization in 2013 as the Drive for Universal Healthcare that toured 33 cities in 3 years.advocating and educating the public using The Healthcare Movie. Since then it has become Demand Universal Healthcare. Most of the work they do now is done through the internet. Since 2013, their Facebook page has grown to over 80,000 followers with over a million interactions, their Twitter page has amassed over 14,000 followers. The DUH page has appeared on Facebook’s Blue Book of Progressive Pages every year since 2013.
The universal health care movement in America is mostly composed of people who lean left ideologically, with universal healthcare being attached to more socialist ideologies. The movement for universal healthcare in America is also largely intersectional, with close ties to the Black Lives Matter movement. African Americans are the most oppressed racial group in America. With high levels of poverty and imprisonment rates, they are also likely to lack access to adequate healthcare. DUH works with black power organizations to get them the resources necessary to access healthcare. They also have close ties with the Women's Movement in America. Women are also an oppressed demographic in the United States with very limited access to sexual and reproductive healthcare. Universal healthcare would provide more opportunities for women to get access to a very needed resources. DUH wants everyone to know that healthcare affects everyone, not just limited amount of people. America would be a much better, healthier country if universal healthcare was achieved.
DUH is a decentralized movement with only two full time employees. It relies on the help of volunteers.
Donna Ellington and Sue Saltman are the only full-time staffed members of DUH. After working in the HIV/AIDS field for over 20 years and having a first hand look at the struggles people often faced in receiving adequate health care, as well as having a rare autoimmune liver disease, Sue has dedicated herself to universal healthcare advocacy. Donna was in the Air Force then an educator and counselor before dedicating her time to the fight for universal healthcare. She was the chairperson for Healthcare for America before becoming the Social Media Director of DUH, she also runs the partner Facebook site that deals with more general political topics called People Overcoming Politics.
The work done within DUH is reliant on volunteers. DUH has a small budget based on follower donations and on funding by the two founders which prevents for a full-time staff. There are several volunteers within the organization that carry out vital jobs, Luule Vess is integral in candidate research, Josh Dill works part time as a Campaign Consultant.