Let's Expand Medicare
William Thar, MD
New York Times
Letter to the editor
February 1, 2009
To the Editor:
Paul Krugman (column, Jan. 30) is right: the time for universal health care is now! Universal health care would be a huge boost to the economy if done right.
Employers should stop paying for health care, and it should be paid for by tax revenues designed to spread the burden equitably. This would immediately reduce business expenses, and the savings would show up as increased salaries and investment. Health care cost burdens for individuals and families would be reduced, freeing more money for consumption and savings.
The best way to save a lot of money and provide universal coverage is to expand Medicare to everyone. The system, widely supported by more than 60 percent of Americans, has the lowest overhead in American health care and works for more than 40 million elderly people.