Readers React: In defense of single payer

I would suggest that Dr. Richard F. Corlin’s letter did readers a disservice by suggesting that the problems at Department of Veterans Affairs hospitals are proof that a single-payer healthcare system in the U.S. won’t work. (“Fix the VA,” Letters, May 20)

Corlin is correct that Congress is incapable of solving healthcare delivery system issues; however, a single-payer, Medicare-like system would permit veterans and all other citizens the opportunity to go to any provider for their care.

The problems at the VA are indicative of the pitfalls of trying to pay for and deliver healthcare in a closed system. The VA requires enrollment, service delivery and payment all to be made through its system. In contrast, a Medicare-for-all system would not be closed.

Single-payer advocates are not looking to create a closed delivery system; we just want everyone to be able to receive healthcare at their chosen providers while having the government be responsible for paying those providers. We can fill in the gaps with private insurance, just like Medicare beneficiaries do now.

John Winkelman

Irvine