Test of socialized medicine is still to come

I'd like to respond to the letter from Jefferson Perkins RE: socialized medicine. The true test of socialized medicine in the COVID crisis will not be the survival rate of patients, because in this crisis hospitals, etc., are treating all-comers regardless of the way health care is funded in the respective countries. The true test will be the financial health of the medical institutions when this is all over.

Right now, everyone is justifiably focused on medical professionals getting the supplies they need to fight the pandemic and protect health care workers. I fear another crisis will emerge after the current storm - hospitals and medical professionals having to deal with the financial crisis of treating so many uninsured and underinsured people as well as the number of people who will be forced further into dire straits by medical debt.

In countries with socialized medicine, the burden will be shared by all. Here the burden will be felt by most in the form of increased health premiums because hospitals will have to charge more to cover their losses and by people who have no insurance and will be forced into bankruptcy.

Mary Hunter

Carpentersville