Reform means universal coverage
During a three-year intensive study, League of Women Voters members examined the delivery and financing of health care in the United States.
They found a system in crisis: 37 million Americans without health insurance; one of every four Americans expected to be without coverage at some point over the next two years; 20 million more Americans with inadequate coverage; and skyrocketing health-care costs, rising at twice the rate of inflation.
Americans are spending $1 out of every $7 we earn on health care. The health care crisis is so far-reaching that it can only be solved by comprehensive reform.
The league's consensus solutions are three: universal coverage for all U.S. residents, regardless of ability to pay; a benefits package that assures a basic level of quality care; and stringent containment of health-care spending.
Universal coverage is critical to the success of health-care reform. The current crisis is based in part on the lack of universal access. Individuals without health care coverage are more likely to seek care at the wrong end of the health care system, when a problem has become acute and needs emergency treatment.
The cost of such uncompensated care is passed along to the insured in the form of higher prices in what is called "cost-shifting." By providing access to health care for all U.S. residents and emphasizing preventive health care and health education, a good health-care reform package will save costs and lives.
The basic package of health care benefits should include the following health care services: primary care, acute care, mental health care and long-term care.
The league believes that reducing administrative costs, setting caps for health-care spending, using managed care and promoting the equitable distribution of services will go a long way toward containing health-care costs that presently are spiraling out of control.
The league's preferred method of financing was a national health-care insurance plan financed through general taxes in place of individual insurance premiums the so-called "single-payer" approach.
In addition, league members indicated that an employer-based system was acceptable. Because health care is a form of compensation and because it assures a healthy and productive work force, it is appropriate for employers to pay for health care. Because it builds on the existing system, an employer-mandate system can achieve universal coverage without large disruptions the health-care delivery system.
The league also supports increased taxes to finance a basic level of health-care reform. We would look very carefully at a variety of factors when evaluating the acceptability of taxes used to finance care for all U.S. residents, but we would be particularly concerned that the tax is fair, equitable and progressive.
We could support increases in so-called "sin taxes" as part of a reform package that encourages Americans to lead healthy lifestyles. We could also support a general income tax increase. The league strongly opposes a value-added tax or national sales tax to pay for health-care reform.
Health-care reform has been described as the most sweeping domestic policy initiative since the Social Security Act of 1935. Health-care reform would overhaul one-seventh of the U.S. economy and its impact would be felt by every person in the United States.
League members, along with a broad majority of the American people, have come to the same conclusion: The health-care crisis can be solved only by comprehensive reform.
Agnes B. Edwards
Baltimore
The writer is chairwoman of the health care committee of the League of Women Voters of Baltimore City.
Fans from Ohio
Being from the Cleveland area didn't seem to be anything extraordinary while visiting Baltimore recently, but it was.
We enjoyed the similarities of our cities in hopes our harbor would also be so beautiful.
Our visit was a last-minute getaway and we enjoyed your fabulous Aquarium, the USS Constellation, watching the crew from the tall Argentine ship "Libertad," even the little boat that kept the harbor clean each morning.
The Stouffer Hotel was very beautiful and to our surprise, as we checked in, so did the Cleveland Indians.
But our trip was made very special by an unknown, distinguished looking gentleman from Baltimore, as we walked to Camden Yards on Tuesday, July 26, with a little conversation about our being Indians fans, which was obvious with our Tribe shirts.
We told him we were from Cleveland and couldn't get tickets for the evening game that day. He then asked if we would want his tickets.
Skeptical, we said yes, and he proceeded to give us bleacher seat tickets. When we offered to pay him for them, he repeatedly said no, and that he wanted them to be used by someone who would "enjoy the game."
We would like to say thank you once again in hopes that he will see this letter.
We enjoyed the game, the seats and the Orioles fans -- especially two little guys we sat next to, teaching them to whistle real loud.
RF Baltimore, you have a beautiful city. We hope to visit again soon.
Joan and Joe Verba
Parma, Ohio
Women warriors
On the one hand, we are told that we need a new plethora of legislation and litigation to protect women from physically superior men who would abuse and harass them.
On the other hand, we are told that women are just as capable as men of handling the rigors of combat.
After only a few months of permitting women to serve on board a combat ship, the USS Eisenhower, the first pregnancy has been reported. (This, undoubtedly, will turn out to be the fault of the male who forced himself upon the woman under oppressive conditions allowed by a male skipper.)
Certainly there are some women who are just as physically able as some men and could out-perform them in combat. But the worst of war is largely a physical endeavor that requires thousands of warriors who, due to the sheer numbers required, must include mostly average people.
I'll pick any thousand average men over any thousand average women in any physical task any day.
Unless we can get our potential enemies to sign off on our sexual harassment/abuse guidelines, and our notion of treating the military as just another equal opportunity employer, we ought to abandon this idea before someone gets hurt.
We shouldn't send women to war until we run out of men.
Dave Reich
Timonium
Death of Bozman
The recent death of Bozman, a police quarter horse killed by striking a parked car during a police chase, proves once again that horses do not belong in traffic.
Whether a police horse, carriage horse or A-rab horse, these animals should be grazing in a field, not serving humans in the streets where they are subjected to extreme temperatures, little water, overwork and dangerous situations.
The most outrageous thing in Bozman's case is his fate -- shipped and ground into poultry feed. After a year of service to the city, Bozman deserved at least a proper burial.
Heather Moore
Baltimore
Good police work
I would like this letter to be an expression of thanks to the Baltimore Police Department.
On July 20, my wife and I paid a long anticipated visit to the Baltimore Inner Harbor. This visit almost turned into a disaster. I say almost because the disaster was prevented by the great police work of the Baltimore police.
During the early morning hours of July 21, my wife and I were
awakened in our hotel by a phone call from the desk clerk.
We were informed that our car was stolen from the hotel garage and that there there two policemen in the lobby wanting to speak to me.
To make a long story short, I was escorted to where my car was apprehended and I was able to recover it in good shape. I was cordially led back to my hotel by the police because I was unfamiliar with the streets.
Because of the fine efforts of the police in discovering that my car was stolen without its being reported as such and their efforts in locating me, what could have been a nightmare was turned into a memorable occasion by your fine Police Department.
At all times the policemen I was involved with were helpful, courteous, friendly and, most of all, efficient. Because of them, your city has made a lasting impression on me and my wife.
Walter Cieslin
East Windsor, N.J.