Health bill is inadequate

Regarding the April 26 story “There are solutions to health insurance affordability crisis” by Elliot Richardson, President of Small Business Advocacy Council:

Mr. Richardson extols the value of pending Illinois Senate Bill 3619 in helping with affordability in health insurance. This is not worthy of a drop in the bucket for the health insurance crisis. It provides a $400 employer provided benefit. $400 may provide one office visit to a family physician.

He also suggests federal efforts that promote transparency on health care costs and the existence of Association Health Plans as a supplier of affordable health insurance. Association Health Plans are generally plans of group insurance issued by insurers. These supply a source of health insurance but do not exhibit any cost savings to participants.

These types of reports do nothing to help affordability of health care. The best solution is to permit all of us to be covered by Medicare and encourage Congress to coordinate with health-care providers for a reasonable cost for their services. We are the only country in the world that doesn't have this type of arrangement. I hope Mr. Richardson and others promote real solutions like Medicare for All.

Mike Dressendorfer

Antioch