Opinion

Medicare sends uninsured count up

LETTER — Posted Oct. 22, 2007

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Regarding "Uninsured count jumps to 47 million" (Article, Sept. 17): Once again we have the uninsured count that increases. This is definitely caused by intervention by government medicine.

Medicare underpays hospitals, the hospitals bump up the bills of patients to cover their costs, and private insurance rates go up to cover the bumped- up cost. Thus, people cannot afford insurance and become uninsured.

It is amazing how health insurance cost control is the reverse of car insurance. Young people pay a high price in car insurance because they are high risk, and older people pay a low cost. In health insurance, young people pay a high cost in health insurance to cover the price-controlled underpayment of the seniors.

More government intervention? That is already the problem.

Peter F. Holmes, MD, San Antonio, Texas

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/10/22/edlt1022.htm.

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