By Claudia Fegan, M.D.
The New York Times, Letters, Feb. 24, 2019
To the Editor:
Re: “What’s Good Health Care Worth?” (editorial, Feb. 17):
Thirty-six thousand Americans die prematurely each year because they are uninsured. And more than half a million households declare bankruptcy each year because of illness or medical bills. Who could possibly benefit from such an inhumane system?
Private insurers.
High deductibles and co-pays, narrow networks of doctors, and prior authorization paperwork keep patients from getting the care they need, while funneling more money into the pockets of insurance companies. Private insurers add nothing of value to our health care system and drain billions of dollars that should be spent on patient care.
A single-payer “Medicare for all” system would end this needless loss of life and life savings.
Dr. Claudia Fegan is the chief medical officer of Cook County Health and the national coordinator of Physicians for a National Health Program.