Stossel is incorrect about health care

Syndicated columnist John Stossel continually shows a complete lack of understanding about the health-care system and allows his libertarian leanings to interfere with rational thought.

First, the reason there is no real competitive marketplace for health insurance has nothing to do with government regulations, as Stossel as has tried arguing. Rather, the reason is that insurance companies don't want competition. By preventing consumers from having true choices, insurers are positioned to better to protect their profits.

Second, even with health insurance, people do not receive enough preventive care. The high rates of undiagnosed diabetes, hyperthyroidism and other treatable diseases are testament to this fact. Increasing the amount people are forced to pay out of pocket for medical care, as Stossel advocates, will worsen this problem instead of improving it.

Finally, price competition does not guarantee quality. Wal-Mart is great for getting things cheap, but it's not so great for getting high-quality merchandise. Do we really stand to benefit if individuals constantly seek out the cheapest form of medical care? Our reliance on cheap stuff from China has resulted in concerns about safety. Imagine the problems if we tried to outsource medical care.

I wish Stossel, and everyone else, would join me in demanding our politicians to form a bipartisan panel, similar to the 9/11 Commission, to develop a long-term proposal for fixing the health care crisis in the U.S.

Charles Rotblut

Vernon Hills