Universal health care could work for U.S.

I am still deeply troubled that President Obama and his administration throughout the last year have not done a very good job explaining to Americans the advantages of a sensible universal health care system, including a public option.

I think that most Americans would appreciate watching the PBS Frontline segment “Sick Around the World” (www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/

sickaroundtheworld/view/) which objectively shows how other developed countries have created good universal health care systems that work fairly well, provide cost-effective preventive health care for everyone, and yet the overall cost is about half as much per person as the U.S. health care system.

It was especially revealing that Switzerland created a universal health care system only about 15 years ago, despite the fact that it has deeply entrenched health insurance and pharmaceutical industries. A health care administrator there remarked that no one ever goes bankrupt because of a health care crisis. Each year, about 600,000 Americans go bankrupt due to medical crises.

Why is this understanding of all the benefits of a good, comprehensive universal health care system not being given to all Americans and their legislators? There is no reason why the U.S. cannot create its own universal health care system that is well designed and well run.

Dr. John Macatee

Iowa City