Editor,
On July 30 one of our nation’s most valuable and popular social programs turns 50. Signed into law by President Johnson, the program currently covers 55 million Americans — people aged 65 and older and those with permanent disabilities.
On its golden anniversary, Medicare can celebrate many worthy accomplishments. Among them, it sharply reduced poverty among seniors and reduced health disparities related to race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.
While not perfect, Medicare allows enrolled Americans to go to the doctor or hospital of their choice, and they are far happier than those with private insurance.
Access to needed healthcare has led to better health outcomes for seniors and contributed to a five-year increase in life expectancy at age 65.
Little appreciated is that fact that traditional Medicare spends only 2 percent on overhead/administrative costs compared to private insurance whose costs run anywhere from 12-30 percent. Healthcare costs under Medicare, versus private insurance, have also experienced a slower rate of growth.
Given the myriad of shortcomings of the Affordable Care Act – e.g., decreasing employer coverage, increasing out-of-pocket expenses and lack of cost controls – is it not time to seriously consider expanding and improving Medicare for everyone?
A national, improved “Medicare for All” could easily be financed with a nominal increase in the federal payroll tax, currently at 1.45 percent, and savings of approximately $400 billion annually that goes for the administrative waste associated with the private insurance industry.
Imagine, no more premiums, co-pays, deductibles, co-insurance, restricted provider networks, bankruptcies from medical debt, but instead savings from negotiating drug prices, universal, comprehensive coverage, regardless of employment status, the freedom to choose one’s doctors and hospital and more money for discretionary spending outside of healthcare.
For the past several years there was legislation in Congress – H.R. 676 – the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act – that would put such a system in place. Since most Americans already support such national health insurance, all that is needed now is the political will and pressure on our elected officials in Washington, D. C. to make it happen.
Marshall F. Goldberg
Oak Harbor
