Single-payer plan makes more sense

To the editor:

There is a lot of talk about the high cost of health care as a result of the bill passed by Congress. Unfortunately it is real. But several things could happen to eliminate that horrendously high cost. Opponents talk about the unconstitutional aspect of the bill, as we are required by law to buy health insurance, which is sold by for-profit organizations who stand to make a sizeable profit based on the government’s order. To many of us the government forcing purchase of non-government for-profit health insurance just don‘t seem right, and darn expensive. Now, if the government says sign up for health care and a single payer government plan will handle it, at cost, no profit involved, it makes more sense. So how to do it? The makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court can change, and if the new courts view forced individual purchase of high-cost for-profit health insurance as unconstitutional, that portion could get nullified. And what would be the alternative? The U.S. Public Health Service has been in existence more than 60 years, providing health care for certain minorities, and has staff doctors, nurses, hospitals, and support staff to provide what this nation needs, and that is low-cost health care. And they have been doing a great job of it. The court could simply order expansion of the U.S. Public Health Service, and provide universal coverage, at cost, in a single payer system, eliminating the trillion dollar deficits currently building. And thus save the country.

Michael A. Carson

Wasilla