To the editor:

Presidential candidates are presenting plans for health coverage. It involves divvying up tax money, and private insurance corporations would get substantial amounts. This is along the lines of subsidies to oil companies, and subsidies to large farm corporations. So much for the free market!

Extending Medicare coverage to everyone would be cost-effective. Some immediately shout (or whisper) “socialized medicine,” “no choice.” They’re screwy! Using Medicare, I choose what doctors I go to or if I change doctors.

How expansion of Medicare will be paid for is open to negotiation. San Francisco is extending medical coverage to all residents. They believe the $200 million now spent on emergency room visits will pay for a lot of this new coverage.

Exclude insurance corporations – billions more are saved! Thirteen percent to 16 percent of health insurance receipts go to overhead (Quinn, Newsweek, 7-30-07). According to the Kansas Insurance Commissioner’s Office, of medical insurance payments into Kansas, 30 percent ($3 billion) is spent on paperwork to show compliance with diverse health policies. So roughly 55 percent of your premiums actually pay for health care, and 45 percent for corporate red tape!

It’s our national policy of corporate entitlement that drives up health care costs! Medicare overhead and paperwork costs less. It’s time for citizen entitlement!

Mark Larson,

Lawrence