Universal health care is the best solution for U.S.

MR. LOWRY, Medicare-for-all is a very serious proposal and the most workable solution for our national health insurance problems. A Democratic administration would design it for fiscal sustainability. Republicans, on the other hand, have had no new ideas for health insurance.

First, Bernie Sanders is a Democratic Socialist and certainly doesn’t support corrupt dictatorships like Venezuela.

Second, the funding numbers that Lowry quotes do not represent realistic proposals. Obviously, to be fiscally sound, the program would require everyone on the plan to share the costs by paying minimum premiums and co-pays, and there must be coverage limits, just as there are for Medicare now.

No one should expect to get modern high-cost care continually for free at no cost and no premiums. Get real. This Medicare-for-all would not require lower payments to care providers, if designed responsibly.

The greatest benefit from this plan is the huge actuarial risk pool; because everyone would be eligible, costs would be less than commercial insurance. Those with an employer’s commercial insurance would not be required to switch, although lower costs might encourage them to do so.

Is this insurance plan socialism? Yes, and even Republicans should love it, because it would be fairer and more efficient; capitalism just doesn’t work for health insurance anymore. Conservatives complain that they don’t want to pay taxes for someone else’s coverage. Do they think they are doing anything different when they pay premiums to a commercial insurance company?

Socialism is bad, you say? No, and it would be a good thing, just like our wonderful Social Security program, which is also a shared investment plan that sustains all of us when we need it. RON HERMAN

Albuquerque