Old and reliable

Re “Public option” (Your Views, Oct. 4): If I weren’t so perplexed at the obvious misinformation in Wilford Gibson’s letter, I would have laughed out loud at his characterization of Medicare for All as a “risky new government” system. Gibson said he is an orthopedic surgeon, so he clearly knows better.

Medicare is neither risky nor new; it is a well-functioning program that has been running for over 55 years and covers over 60 million Americans. Medicare for All is simply the idea to extend Medicare-like coverage to all Americans; an option that could be less expensive and more effective than the patchwork silliness that today passes for America’s health care system.

Reasonable people can disagree about the proper future for Medicare in this country, but to call Medicare for All “risky” and “new” is comedy, full stop.

Ken Blakely, Williamsburg