Regarding Catherine Rampell’s April 18 op-ed, “The appeal of ‘Medicare for all’ ”:

It is encouraging that 40 percent of Trump voters and 46 percent of all Republicans support expanding Medicare to all Americans. Many similar universal single-payer health-care systems in other countries provide effective health care to all their citizens at a lower per-capita cost than does the disjointed U.S. health-care system. Many fiscally conservative Republicans no doubt prefer the most cost-effective health-care delivery system.

It is also understandable that some other Republicans resent their “lazy, less-deserving neighbors” getting great health insurance deals while they have to pay full price. That does sometimes happen. But the opposition of many seniors to universal Medicare is unfortunate. Those of us who have lived long enough to become Medicare recipients should also have gained the experience and maturity to look beyond the sloganeering of the political class. A medical system that can provide effective universal health care for them, their children and their grandchildren at the lowest cost is the best for them, their descendants and our country.

President Trump and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) both think outside the box. Single-payer will come when we elect a president who thinks outside the box and can communicate the health benefits and cost-effectiveness of such a program.

Bruce Hahn, Winchester