Obamacare: consider the alternative

By Donald Broder, M.D.
The New York Times, Letters, Nov. 8, 2013 Re “Despite Fumbles, Obama Defends Health Care Law” (front page, Nov. 7): Nicholas D. Kristof  points out that without universal health care, many of us die prematurely. But before we solve this terrible problem, we have to grapple with our confusion and ambivalence as to what, if any, responsibilities we have for one another. Do we just cluck our tongues and blame Richard Streeter, featured in the column, for not buying insurance? Do we let him seek care at a hospital emergency room knowing that it will be far more expensive and far less effective than timely care would have been? Do we construct a Rube Goldberg-worthy health plan to protect the profits and inefficiencies of every powerful lobby group except that of “we the people” who need care? So far, the answer seems yes. So even with the benefits the Affordable Care Act is bringing, we will still have tens of millions without care, we will still be subsidizing health insurance companies, and we will still be throwing money down a rathole. Until we recognize that we are our brother’s keeper and build a health care system funded by taxes we all pay and delivered by a regulated health care community — improved Medicare for all — we will continue to read tragic stories like the one Mr. Kristof gave us. Dr. Donald Broder is a psychiatrist. He resides in Studio City, Calif. http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/opinion/obamacare-consider-the-alternative.html?_r=0