Michael P. Bacon of Westbrook addressed a number of concerns regarding universal health care in his recent op-ed (“Seven deadly universal health care misunderstandings,” Nov. 2). Some people are concerned that it’s Bernie Sanders’ idea, for example, and they don’t like Bernie Sanders. I have two concerns, neither of which was addressed by Mr. Bacon.
Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All would provide free medical care for Americans. What is there about medical care that distinguishes it from, say, food, clothing, or housing? If Medicare for All were to pass, would we next hear about Housing for All?
Second, there is the issue of incentives. If every problem with my car was fixed at no cost to me, why would I invest any care in that car? Why wouldn’t I just ignore the oil level and tire inflation? And if every medical problem were treated at no cost to people, why wouldn’t people eat junk food and go without exercise? Why invest in your own health if someone else will foot the bill?
If universal health care provided care just for those problems, over which people had no control, our health would be better and the costs would be lower, compared with the proposed system. But requiring a bit of responsibility on the part of health care recipients is apparently not in the cards.
William Vaughan, Jr.
Chebeague Island
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