To the editor:

Instead of profiting off of ill health, why not national health insurance, considering the fact that 47-50 million Americans go without health insurance.

HR 676 national health insurance is the only new idea on the table, and it protects all citizens from unfortunate economic mishap. HR 676 would include every person for all necessary medical care including prescription drugs, hospital, surgical, outpatient services, primary and preventive care, emergency services, dental, mental health, home health, physical therapy, rehabilitation (including substance abuse) vision care, hearing aids, chiropractic, durable medical equipment, palliative care and long-term care.

For all this, a family of four making a median income of $56,200 would pay about $2,700 in payroll tax.

Physicians for a National Health Program is a nonprofit research and education group of medical students and professionals supporting this single payer HR 676. We deserve no less.

Mary M. Blythe,
Lawrence