By Jed Maker, M.D.
The Salt Lake Tribune, April 6, 2017
Regarding the recent town hall of Rep. Chris Stewart, I would like to point out that he has no defense for the debacle that is the failed GOP bill to replace Obamacare. His response is a petulant, taunting, “You have Obamacare.”
Actually we have more than that. There is now HR676, the Expanded and Improved Medicare for All Act before Congress.
I am a physician, recently retired, who took care of hundreds of Medicare patients in my 40 years of practice. I heard very few complaints about Medicare. Most people, like me, are happy and relieved to be of Medicare age. The care you receive is no different than that of private insurance. Medicare has controlled health care costs better than private insurance. Medicare has lower administrative costs than private plans. So-called “competition” in the private market has actually driven costs up. Medicare is publicly accountable; private plans are not.
If you are interested in excellent health care and saving billions of dollars while covering all Americans, write or call your representatives in Congress and urge them to support HR676 and/or Sen. Bernie Sanders’ upcoming Medicare for All Senate legislation. You won’t be sorry.
Dr. Jed Maker resides in Salt Lake City.
