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In response to Theresa Haneline’s letter, “Improve current health care” (June 26): Her information regarding national health care is wrong. Choices are not limited, and more importantly, the doctor and patient are the ones making the decision about what care is appropriate.
As long as private insurance companies, which are in business to make a profit, are in control of health care, decisions will be made based on profitability. By removing a profit motive, we can focus on health again.
Scientists and doctors in all the developed countries that have national health care are still researching ways to keep us healthier and do have incentives to work toward cures for life-threatening illnesses. However, statistics continue to demonstrate that we in the United States are spending twice as much on medical care yet rank 37th in quality and performance.
Finally, it is interesting to note that thousands of our physicians and nurses are now supporting a single-payer system.
RIKKI GOLDSTEIN Fort Wayne
In her letter, “Improve current health care” (June 26), Theresa Haneline makes certain “statements of fact” that astounded me. Unless she has some sort of inside pipeline, none of what I have read about the proposed government health programs suggest that “the federal government will tell your doctor the treatment you can and cannot have.”
In fact, quite to the contrary as I understand it. People would not be compelled to make any changes. The primary focus is intended to be on those who currently have no access to health care.
Unfortunately, all of Haneline’s suggestions to improve the system depend on the individual spending money. Those are all good suggestions for people with income. It does nothing whatsoever for the ever-increasing number of people who, through no fault of their own, have either no income at all or barely enough for food and shelter.
Painting scary pictures is about as non-productive as one can get.
JEANETTE HEITGER Fort Wayne
I don’t believe most people younger than 65 know how well Medicare works for retirees. When I was in the workforce, our wages were taxed 1 percent for Medicare. Now, as a retiree, I pay $96.50 a month for Medicare benefits. Medicare then pays 80 percent of all doctor and hospital charges.
Retirees can go to any doctor or hospital that accepts Medicare anywhere in the country. I have never found a doctor or hospital that does not accept Medicare. Hospitals and doctors cannot charge a patient the additional amount not approved by Medicare.
I am responsible for the other 20 percent of charges, which are determined by Medicare. If you are admitted to a hospital, Medicare recipients are responsible for the first $1,000 plus then 20 percent.
It’s hard for me to see how private insurance companies would go out of business. Private companies offer insurance to take care of the amount Medicare does not pay for. Hospital bills tend to skyrocket, so having supplemental insurance is a good idea.
If the Medicare tax were raised 1 percent or 2 percent, Medicare would be the way to go for everyone. I think Medicare would be a win win for the entire population.
BERNARD BECKSTEDT Fort Wayne
Our president penned a book, “The Audacity of Hope,” and Barbara Boxer did a follow-up audio, “The Audacity of Arrogance” as she stopped a general in midsentence requesting that he refer to her as “Senator,” not as “ma’am,” a title that she “worked hard for.”
News flash, Sen. Boxer – this man worked long and hard, out of the limelight, to earn his title, and he was following military protocol by calling her “ma’am.” How insulting her words, not only to the general, but to all military personnel fighting for our freedoms. Boxer’s comments clearly exhibited her disdain for the military.
This loathing of the military was also exhibited by Damian Hood in his letter, “How many lone nuts can there be?” (June 22), as he rambled on about the “hateful speech” of Bill O’Reilly, Sean Hannity, Glenn Beck, Michael Savage and others being the cause of the deaths of a doctor, a security guard and police officers.
I find it so difficult to understand the loathing that so many have for our military, but I am almost certain that if the time ever comes, those loathing the military, would allow the military to take the bullet to save their lives or the lives of their families.
KATHY WILKINSON Fort Wayne
Regarding the letter by Damian Hood, “How many lone nuts can there be?” (June 22): What Hood proposes is censoring anyone who opposes his view. I don’t know about the rest of America, but while I may not like the hate sprouting every day on liberals’ and conservatives’ blogs, I know that if I don’t stand up for them, it would not be long before the government came after my freedom of speech.
I may not agree with Hood, but I will stand up for his right to write his hate-filled letter.
SHARMAN BULTEMEIER Fort Wayne
