By Daniel J. Schaffer, M.D.
The Spokesman-Review (Spokane, Wash.), Letters, July 7, 2014
The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Hobby Lobby case points out yet another flaw in the employer-based health insurance model of paying for health care. The delivery of health care should be based on the needs of the patient, not the religious convictions of their employer. A publicly funded, single-payer system would relieve employers of the necessity of making difficult decisions like this because they would be out of the health care business entirely.
It remains a mystery to me why any employer would want to be burdened with the administrative hassle and expense of providing health care, when this should be the responsibility of society as a whole. Their competitors in other countries do not have this burden. Employers should be marching in the streets demanding a publicly funded system. It is in their financial best interest.
Dr. Daniel J. Schaffer resides in Spokane.
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/jul/07/single-payer-affirmed/?print-friendly