Universal Health Care........

PB's "Both Sides" failed to include information which should be considered when pondering Universal Health Care: 1. There are some 50 million uninsured. Since these (see following) tend to be those with greater health risks, an average of $10,000 per year in cost to handle needs is a minimal guess. This amounts to another $50+ billion per year. Taxpayers would pay for it. 2. Of the 50 million uninsured, some 12 million are illegal immigrants. Do we really want to further encourage this group by providing health insurance? 3. Perhaps another 10 million are those with chronic addiction and serious mental health problems (the unemployable). They need treatment outside the traditional practice of medicine. (i.e., like the "Drug Courts" established in Missouri which provide support, meeting and monitoring). 4. Young employed persons often see themselves as "bulletproof." They could buy health insurance but won't do so. 5. If you built a health center on every corner, some would not use them. It is not access, but attitude that is the problem for many. 6. If you have lived in Canada or Europe, or spent considerable time visiting there, "Socialized Medicine" in no way compares with US medical services. A six month wait or more for things like cataract surgery is common. 7. The government (we) fund Medicare and Medicaid. Both are incredibly expensive and (nearly) broke. The government is the wrong vehicle to run much of anything on scale. 8. A government program would be required to spend millions to save a preemie under a pound, or provide open heart surgery to a 100 year old patient. All in the name of "doing good." There is a need to insure perhaps 10 million "working poor," on a least a temporary basis. I'm up for that, but let's not set up a government bureaucracy costing many billions to do it............ Don Flassing Editorial Advisory Board. **************An Excellent Credit Score is 750. See Yours in Just 2 Easy Steps! (http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1221823239x1201398650/aol?redir=http://www.freecreditreport.com/pm/default.aspx?sc=668072&hmpgID=62&bcd=May Excfooter51509NO62)