Celebrate Medicare’s birthday

July 30 was Medicare's 54th birthday. I'd like to see my representative support expanding it to everyone, not just those 65 and older like me.

Why do we need Medicare for All? The U.S. ranks 34th worst among developed nations for percentage of people without health coverage. Many insured Americans learn the hard way that high deductibles and copays can make treatment unaffordable.

Drug companies are gouging the American people, putting essential medicines out of reach. Our country spends the most (more than $10,000 per year, per person) on a system that often delivers the least. U.S. life expectancy has fallen among wealthy nations. And shamefully, roughly one-third of the $3.5 trillion we pay into our current system each year is sucked up by corporate paper shuffling, advertising, executive pay and perks, expensive headquarters and other non-care charges.

The problem isn't our doctors and health care providers, it's the system. The current system measures success not by care delivered but how much profits are extracted for the few.

We need to get profits out of health care, we need Medicare for All. Urge your representative to sign on to HR 1384 - the Medicare for All Act of 2019.

Pat Bowen

Iowa City