HEALTH: Nonprofit proposal

As we consider the repeal and replacement of Obamacare, it is important to consider this: The U.S. is the only country in the world that forces its citizens to pay for the expensive trappings of a for-profit health care system for basic care. Those trappings include, in many cases, outrageous CEO salaries, costs of lobbying Congress, campaign contributions, TV ads and profits. Because of our legislators’ obvious commitment to protecting insurance and drug companies over it’s citizens, we pay more than triple (when drug costs are included) what other countries pay for their health care. This is crushing families, costing us lives, and putting a damper on the entire economy.

Americans have been scared by politicians about “government run health care.” I am both a Medicare provider and Medicare beneficiary. From both perspectives, and with a history of advanced cancer (which Medicare saw me through without a hitch), I find Medicare to be more efficient, easier to deal with and more humane. Not once did they hassle my doctors about their recommendations for my treatment — and I received state-of-the-art treatment, with no delays, and no problem finding the specialists I needed.

Republicans claim that their new bill will increase choices. If they are truly about choice, they should provide everyone with the choice of an affordable NONPROFIT option. It is the only way that we will ever bring costs down and make health care affordable for everyone.

PAMELA OLSEN

Coeur d’Alene