TRUMP: Beware his health care

I saw an interesting actuarial table and chart from the World Health Organization that shows USA longevity in 1960 as 70 years of age. Longevity started moving up in the USA in the late 1960s to 79.3 in 2015. That is when Medicare and Medicaid started to impact our health care system. Even so, in Canada life expectancy in 2015 was 82.2, and in Japan it was 83.7 years of age. When the nations were listed by life expectancy, the USA was ranked 31. We should rank much higher.

Seniors are eating better, taking their meds and exercising, and, most importantly, going to the doctor more; that is because they have Medicare and Medicaid. Many people now have health insurance due to the Affordable Care Act, but all of that is now in jeopardy from “Trumpcare,” which the Republicans call the American Health Care Act. Yes, the first attempt to rush it through Congress failed, but it will be back, and that is a threat to your health care and your life expectancy.

Incidentally, those nations that do better in health statistics and better in life expectancy, and there are many, have Single Payer Health Care systems. Something to think about! I’m just saying, think about it.

If you are a senior making $200,000 a year or more, you will get a tax break from “Trumpcare.” If you don’t make that much, and you benefit from Medicare or Medicaid, you will see reduced funding for those programs.

LARRY M. BELMONT

Coeur d’Alene