Public option proven to work elsewhere

Opposed to universal health care? We already have it.

The law states that everyone who shows up at an emergency room must be treated. They cannot be turned away, even if they have no health insurance. This means that we already are paying for universal health care, in the most expensive way. The costs are passed on to us who have insurance or pay for our health care ourselves.

Think a public option is a bad idea and won't work? It works just fine in Europe, where almost every country has a governmental universal health care program. Those countries spend less than half as much as we do on health care, and their citizens are healthier. Studies have found that their average wait to see a doctor is actually less than what we experience here in the United States.

It is unfortunate that there are so many congressmen who are in the back pockets of the hospital and pharmaceutical industry, who are working to prevent us from being able to choose a public option.

Marilyn LaToree

Tipton