Ventura

"Romney Care" had a mandate that everyone had to have insurance. Having this mandate nationally would decrease overall costs of health care because costs are spread over many more people.

If everyone has health insurance, preventive care is covered, which again lowers health care costs. The old adage of "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" is especially true in health care.

Open Medicare to everyone. This government program is effective and popular. Medicare spends about 5 percent on administrative costs, while private insurance administrative costs are about 20 percent.

The United States spends about 14 percent of its gross national product on health care. Other industrialized countries with universal coverage for everyone spend 9 to 12 percent of GNP on health care, and their residents live two years longer.

As the new president and Congress plan to replace the Affordable Care Act, the most cost-effective plan would be Medicare for all, and everyone paying for it through payroll deductions as we do for Social Security and disability insurance.

Judith A. Beay, Ventura