Robert Goodrich’s letter, “Democrats will steal your health care” (Jan. 21), voiced some common concerns about Medicare for All.
Canada has long wait times to see a doctor: The U.S. has longer wait times than nine other developed countries. The problem is a shortage of physicians, not the single-payer system. Health care in the U.K. is rationed: Unlike Medicare for All, the U.K.’s health system is government owned and managed. The U.K. health system is ranked No. 1 for overall health care performance.
Medicare for All will eliminate the rationing that exists today in the U.S. where health care is limited to those who can afford it.
Medicare compensation is too low: Medicare reimbursement rates are designed to be break-even. Single-payer works by cutting administrative waste and corporate profits, not doctor incomes.
Innovation will be suppressed: U.S. taxpayers currently foot the bill through government-funded grants and private foundations, for 80% of all drug research. Every one of the 210 new drugs approved by the FDA between 2010 and 2016 began with National Institute of Health-funded labs.
Health care costs will increase: The proposed tax increases to cover Medicare for All will be significantly less than what we’re paying now for premiums, deductibles and co-pays. Drug prices will decrease when the government isn’t restricted from negotiating prices with pharmaceutical companies.
The current Medicare for All bills will go through major revisions before becoming law. The goal is a system that fixes our broken health care system by reducing costs and increasing access for all.
Leaving things as they are is not a solution.
Jan PhillipsDurango
