Government health care better than what we have

I'm tired of the baseless scare tactics used on the health care topic. All countries ration health care services. We ration by income, class and profitability - 46 million uninsured because of cost, but also rationed through "reasonable and customary" care and pricing guidelines, company bureaucrats making decisions based on profitability, service area restrictions and provider networks.

Most people are not free to choose their doctors today, selecting instead from an in-network provider list. This list can change at any time due to the provider, employer or insurance company, often leading people to abandon long-standing physician relationships. I have to wait a minimum of three months to see my neurologist; even my primary care physician can take two months to get an appointment unless I see a physician's assistant.

The health care lobby's big lie is "government health care would mean higher taxes, just look at Canada and Europe." Facts: The median household family insurance policy costs 25 percent of income, not including deductibles or co-payments. In comparison, German employees contribute an average of 13.99 percent toward a government plan. The tax rate for the average U.S. family is 15 percent while the rate in Germany for the same income level is 14 percent. This analysis works just as well for other countries with a government plan, including Canada, France, and Great Britain.

The U.S. does not have the best health care in the world. It ranks 37th, according to the World Health Organization, behind most western democracies. But at least we pay twice as much for it.

Plus, this is a case where social justice intersects with competitiveness. My company contributes $8,000 per year to my health care costs; I wonder what we could do with the extra $36 million if we didn't have to pay this for our 4,500 employees?

Steven Heronemus

Batavia