William Vaughan Jr. recently wrote about his concerns regarding “Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All,” with statements that need to be challenged (“Letter to the editor: Could ‘Medicare for All’ open the floodgates?,” Nov. 9).

I have visited a number of other countries where some sort of universal health care is in operation. None of those plans are “free.” There are various systems but the people in each of those countries are willing to pay taxes to provide health care for all their fellow citizens. Why? Because everyone will need medical care eventually and no one should get sicker or die because of a lack of ability to pay for that care.

The result of these systems is that their citizens live longer and are healthier than people here. Not only that, but those countries as a whole pay way less for medical care than we do. What is not to like about that? Also note that Medicare in this country is not free, it is just more affordable.

Vaughan suggests that people who have healthcare would not care for their own bodies. Maybe, instead, they would be able to get help for their health issues when they are beginning, rather than when they have progressed to a critical stage. Medicines would be affordable. A test would not break the bank.

Take a look at the statistics. We pay more and get worse results than these other countries. Maybe caring for each other also results in caring for oneself.

Delene Perley
Portland

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