Health care debate

Regarding Wes Eades’ June 20 letter in which he offers questions regarding those without health care insurance, I’d like to directly comment on two of them.

He asks: Do the 45 million uninsured have access to care through emergency rooms? The ER is a wonderful place to go when you’ve fallen out of a tree and broken your arm. It’s not the place you go for third-stage cancer surgery or follow-up radiation treatments. It’s also not free. Hospitals and physicians might write off the costs as bad debt, but those costs then are spread out to other patients.

He asks: How many of these 45 million have cars, televisions and other things they’ve chosen to purchase instead of insurance? My television cost less than $300 and was purchased five years ago. My vehicle was given to my husband and I two years ago. How do those two items add up to the several thousand dollars it would cost per year for our health insurance (if we could even get it due to pre-existing conditions)?

And a general response here about following a doctor’s instructions regarding physical challenges: If I have no money for health insurance, I’m not likely to have the money to see a physician. And should I decide to avail myself of “free” ER care, I doubt most emergency room doctors would feel qualified to give more than the most general of advice to help me address my physical “challenges.”

Overall, I’ve found the current health care insurance debate fascinating for the attitudes that are revealed during the discussions. Unfortunately, there often seems to be a streak of self-righteousness and smugness revealed that isn’t particularly appealing.

Donna Hurst

Waco

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I have had my own experiences with government-provided medical care with Veterans Affairs facilities. I now use Scott & White, and the personnel there seem to be much more interested in my welfare. As an added benefit, the doctors — unlike the VA — speak intelligible English.

R.W. Schiemenz

Gholson

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When I think of government-run health care, I think of the tons of paperwork and financial stability of Medicare and Medicaid, the efficiency of the post office and the compassion of the IRS.

John G. Martin

Waco

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Could U.S. Rep. Chet Edwards or some other enlightened Democrat explain how adding 40-plus million people to the health system (half of them illegal immigrants) is going to save money?

Emil Heugatter

Waco

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Pew Hispanic Center estimates 15 percent of our nation’s uninsured are illegal immigrants.

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All Americans have a right to affordable health care without losing everything to astronomical bills for medical services. Health care is simply too expensive.

This “what-the-market-will-bear” mentality has all but destroyed our free-market system.

David Orosz

Waco