How universal health care will work

On July 16, a writer asked how universal health coverage will actually cost less. I hope that this was not a rhetorical question, because I would like to explain as best I can.

To begin with examples from the writer's letter, I will say that in reality the hospital will not want less money for patient visits, the drug company will not take less money for prescriptions, and doctor bills won't actually go down. However, in a properly set up system you will pay less.

The concept behind universal coverage is that you pay a tax to the government. This money may be more or less than what you already pay to a private insurance company. After your taxes are paid, the rest of your medical treatment is essentially free. If you need to see a doctor or go to the hospital, the government will pay for all of your expenses. There is no deductible or co-pay, so no matter how many times you end up in the hospital, or no matter how much your "bills" are, there is never an additional payment to your taxes. If you require prescriptions, a flat rate for any/all prescriptions at any/all quantities may exist. So you really do pay less. If you are truly interested in the cost of a universal plan, please go to [ for more information.

I would also like to comment on another letter which was printed on the same day. I have personally spoken with people who live in France and England (countries with universal health care), and they all said that waiting forever to see doctors, have surgeries, or see specialists is all a myth. They said that under their system, treatment is always given to those who need it at the time when they need it.

Kelan McDonnell

Winfield