Dear Editor: There are major concerns about the cost of universal health care.

 

President Obama in one of his town hall meetings said he planned to fund his health care program by reducing medical-practice waste and insurance expenses to cover two-thirds, and one-third by taxing those who make over $250,000 a year. Noting that he is in the higher income bracket, Obama said, "There’s nothing wrong with me paying a little more to help people with less."

 

It is important to note that in 2009 Massachusetts’ universal health plan, long discussed as a possible model for the nation, got a $115 million haircut. The state was faced with lower revenues and a growing number of citizens who lost their jobs and their health insurance.

 

Massachusetts, a state of 6.5 million residents, needed to cover a total of 680,000 uninsured but 115,000, or 2.6 percent of the population, were left without insurance. Let us imagine Obama’s program matches Massachusetts’ performance because, as we are all aware, it is simply unlikely especially during the first years to cover all uninsured. It is fair to state by implementing the new universal system they will be leaving out millions of the 46 million people who are now uninsured. Then will this be a failure or success?

 

Malek Khazen

 

Milwaukee