Adapt successful models

Now that the charade of Republican politicians pretending they were serious about health care has finally ended, it’s time to repair our system. There are two models of universal health care in the civilized world. One is single payer (Britain, Canada). The other is insurance-based (Switzerland, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands).

In single-payer systems, health care is part of general taxation. Everyone pays a bit more to provide health insurance to all, but the wealthiest pay quite a bit more to subsidize the disabled and others who are unable to work or to earn a living wage.

In insurance-based systems, every single person is required to purchase health insurance by law. Those who are unable to afford it are subsidized by the government. Doctor representatives, hospitals, insurance executives and government officials meet on a regular basis to determine proper rates of reimbursement. Insurance profits are allowed but limited to a certain fixed percentage by law. Insurance companies or the government can negotiate with drug companies to get better prices for bulk purchase.

Health care needn’t be complicated if only we use the models that have worked successfully in most other developed countries for 50 years or more.

Greg Presley

Spokane