‘Standing Firm on Medicare’

I wish to point out that a large percentage of Medicare recipients already have catastrophic coverage as one of their employer-paid retirement benefits. This is in the form of a supplement to Medicare. Many retired government employees (state, county) as well as many in the private sector have this coverage at little or no cost to themselves. Therefore, the Medicare expansion is levying a substantial fee or tax on this group for something they do not need. It is, in effect, taking away one of the retirement benefits they worked for.

I think the law should be amended to exclude this group or make their coverage optional.

MARIE DAILEY

Los Angeles