‘The Applause Is Deserved’

I take issue with your statement that the legislation to expand Medicare benefits is “an excellent piece of legislation” (editorial, “The Applause Is Deserved,” June 3). Instead of providing “catastrophic care,” the bill is a financial catastrophe for the overwhelming majority of seniors.

At first glance, the bill appears to be laudatory. However, after reading the provisions, the cons far outweigh the pros. As you say in the editorial, “But it does not address the greatest health-finance catastrophe facing older Americans--the cost of long-term nursing-home care that each year consumes the life savings of thousands of senior citizens.”

Although 32 million seniors and disabled will be taxed an additional $6.30 monthly, only a minuscule of patients will benefit--those hospitalized over 60 days. Of these, most carry supplemental insurance policies, which in addition to paying the $540 hospital deductible and the 20% co-payment, have also for years been paying the identical benefits that the bill will pay.

So, in effect, the biggest gainers will be the insurance companies which will get a financial bonanza by being absolved from paying out billions of dollars. The biggest losers will be the seniors who will be paying more in premiums and 15% more in income taxes.

The bill also establishes a precedent which would dignify and legitimize the concept of charging extra for added benefits. These Band-Aids and cosmetic benefits will not provide adequately for all our medical needs; what is needed is major surgery.

The only sensible solution is passage of a national health services bill, patterned after Gov. Michael Dukakis’ Massachusetts health plan and similar to the health plans that all other industrialized nations have.

Their experiences have demonstrated that national health plans have provided coverage of all catastrophic and chronic illnesses for all their people at far less cost than what we are now paying for partial coverage.

CARL M. LEVIN

Los Angeles