Middleman’s Profit Illustrates System Flaw

Re: “Wellpoint Profit Increases 64% From Year Earlier” (Feb. 11):

This is the problem with the health-care delivery system: An insurance company, among the best performers in the managed-care industry, made $703.1 million in 2002.

An ideal system would have no one between the patient and the provider (doctors, hospitals, etc.) taking a huge slice of the medical-care pie, $17.3 billion in 2002 revenue to be exact.

A nonprofit single payer is the answer to this ridiculous arrangement.

B.L. “Bud” Fink

Carpinteria