Health care for all

The letter from the two doctors in The Spokesman-Review of Feb. 10 started me thinking about what a national health care system might look like.

We could start by issuing everyone in this country a national health care card along with a Social Security card at birth, or maybe making it a combination card. We would pay into it like we do income taxes and have a deductible.

We could eliminate Medicare and Medicaid, thereby eliminating discrimination based on age, gender, weight, health habits and previously existing conditions. It would encourage doctors to go into areas of medicine that interest them the most, not just ones that pay the best. A person could see any doctor, dentist, therapist or practitioner of their choosing.

I can see at least one possible downside to this idea. Identity theft could become even more of a nightmare than it already is. We would need to anticipate that probability and be proactive in dealing with it.

Candy Frankel

Spokane