Patrick McHenry and Health Care

Received email from Patrick McHenry about how America has the best health care system in the entire world, and there are some minor areas that need attention. He apparently sees our system as being not-quite perfect but well on the way. My response:

Mr. McHenry, America does NOT have the best health care system in the world, but falls far short of ALL other developed nations in the world, with over 45 million Americans totally uninsured, and perhaps another 45 million under-insured. Additionally, many American businesses find themselves carrying the cost of providing insurance of their workers as they compete in the new global economy - and they are the only ones who have this cost.

Here's what to do. 1) Provide Medicare for All. All Americans would be insured and the waste and additional costs (profits) of the insurance companies could be used for American health-care. The medical profession would no longer have 100+ insurance firms to deal with, but with only one single payer. 2) Failing that, devise ANY system you want BUT provide a public option in that system. Then let the American people make the decision themselves.

John Womack