Does a Public Option Insurance Plan

DOES A SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE PLAN MERIT
YOUR CONSIDERATION?
Would a single-payer(public option) Healthcare Plan similar to Medicare make sense for every one in the US? Remember MEDICARE is the best liked, most efficient, and least costly health plan we have.

Ms. Olive Johnson of Vancouver, Canada recently sent a letter to the Chicago Tribune entitled, “Gov’t-funded care”.

“I am writing from Canada because of my interest in the current debate about healthcare in the US. I think Americans would want to know how other countries handle healthcare coverage.
These are the facts about health care coverage in Canada.
1)Gov’t-funded health care is available to everyone. People are free to choose the doctor they want.
2)Individuals pay a modest amount for government-funded health-care(approximately $50 per month), which covers all of their doctor visits, hospital procedures(including surgeries) and laboratory tests.
3)Drugs for those over 65 are paid for, in part or in full, by the Gov’t. The amount paid is dependent on one’s income.
4)People younger than 65 may have their drugs paid for by their employers. Otherwise they can pay into a private insurance scheme to cover the cost of their drugs.
5)Contrary to rumors about long waiting lists in Canada most people are able to see a doctor without delay. The exception to this in rural areas where there are too few doctors. Medical specialists may also have waiting lists.

I can assure you that in Canada gov’t-funded health care is very popular. ALMOSTS ALL OF THOSE WHO DENIGRATE OUR PUBLIC HEALTH-CARE SYSTEM ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO STAND TO PROFIT FROM ITS DEMISE. I URGE AMERICANS NOT TO BE FOOLED INTO ACCEPTING PRIVATE, FOR PROFIT HEALTH CARE, WHICH IS BOTH MORE EXPENSIVE AND LESS EFFICIENT THAN GOV’T-FUNDED CARE.