Letter: A better plan for Medicare

EDITOR,
A recent letter, “Medicare dilemma requires ideas” (David deMilo, July 22), ends asking us to rethink Medicare, Social Security and other “so-called” entitlements. So I decided to do just that.
The author of the letter appeared to endorse the Ryan plan, which calls for the eventual elimination of Medicare and putting your health needs back into the hands of those you can trust (the medical insurance companies). The Ryan plan will also force the elderly to pay about 50 percent more for their health care than they pay under the current system. It keeps current medical industry price gouging in place.
The United States used to have a different type of medical system. Before 1965 and Medicare, medical coverage for those over 65 ranged from about 12 percent in the Southeast to about 50 percent in the industrial Northeast. If you were not covered, what did you do? Most people either delayed care until they died or asked for charity. Many doctors took pride in providing care for those who needed it, regardless of their ability to pay. Sometimes, the elderly were able to live with family; others went homeless and died or were taken to a commercial home called the “the poor house” by some. By all accounts, it was horrible place to end your life. This was American society before Medicare, and some now believe (survival of the richest) it was a better system. They cite rising medical expenditures as unaffordable. They may be right about expenses, but they should ask this instead: Why are per-capita medical costs in the United States double those in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Israel and all Europe?
Before we eliminate Medicare, voters need to ask why our leaders are allowing the medical industry to gouge our citizens for their medical expenses. Rather than ration medical care by one’s wealth, I find it preferable and, frankly, much closer to the teachings of Jesus Christ if we instead socialize medical care. It’s time to insist on Medicare for all Americans. It can easily be paid for by getting the same prices for medical care as the other countries (our competitors) are currently paying.
Michael Duffy, Scotts Valley