To the editor:

Americans believe “making health care more affordable” should be the top priority for improving the U.S. economy. (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2008). Americans spend about twice as much for health care as any other country including Canada and the U.K., where national systems provide health care for all. In effect, the U.S. is already paying for health care for all, but not receiving it. The U.S. health insurance for profit system eats up about 30 percent of this spending in overhead while most other countries’ overhead is below 4 percent, and Medicare’s is below 5 percent.

Health care for all could be achieved by extending our Medicare system to all – not just to our seniors. Affordable health care for all would result in a safer, healthier, more productive country. Businesses could focus more on product and less on shouldering a broken insurance system. Doctors could spend more time caring for patients and less time dealing with insurance for profit. The U.S. would have a working system in place should a national health disaster or attack occur.

Seeking profit while balancing coverage/denial for illness/injury is costly, demoralizing work. My country is a caring country and it could also be safer, less wasteful, healthier, more productive and more competitive globally. State and national groups are working for national health care for all. House Resolution 676 would expand an improved Medicare program to all Americans. Over 90 representatives have signed as co-sponsors to this bill; our U.S. representatives from Kansas have not.

Carol Grieb,

Lawrence