WHITNEY PALMER

READER

On Wednesday, July 19, at a public forum on Medicaid in Maryland, numerous individuals shared how their lives or the lives of family members were saved thanks to their access to Medicaid.

Others explained how access to medication and therapies have allowed them to re-enter the workforce and gain self-sufficiency.

Throughout the state, Marylanders have benefited from Medicaid expansion; conservative numbers state 291,000 individuals have gained coverage — and the majority live in rural areas.

Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester counties had some of the highest enrollment rates in the state.

I did not benefit from Medicaid expansion. In fact, under the Affordable Care Act, I pay higher premiums — and do not have quality coverage. The greatest success of the ACA was Medicaid expansion, but I do not believe the ACA can or should be fixed.

Our health care system has high administrative costs and the cost of care is set by profit motives. Insurance and pharmaceutical companies prioritize corporate profits over the health of Americans — and treat health care as a commodity.

Health care is a human right and moral issue, not a commodity. As Salisbury Mayor Jake Day stated at the forum, our goal should be to provide more and higher quality care to Americans, especially access to mental health services.

I believe that should take the form of a single-payer, Medicare-for-all system. A single-payer system will result in savings of at least $400 billion-$900 billion a year.

When physicians can focus on people’s health instead of bureaucracy or creating a plan based on a person’s ability to pay, they can address health needs and prioritize prevention.

Additionally, people will no longer declare bankruptcy because of medical bills.

Fewer people will die.

It is time for the United States to prioritize people over profits and join the rest of the world with Medicare for all.

Whitney Palmer

Berlin

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