One issue has been missing from certain news channels. The U.S. is supposed to be the greatest country in the world yet we allow 22,000 people to die each year for lack of health insurance. According to the article, “5 Myths About Health Care Around the World,” (Washington Post, Aug. 23), if those same people had lived in most other advanced nations — they would have had access to universal health coverage.

In many advanced countries health insurance plans are private instead of government-run and they exist only to pay people's medical bills, not to make a profit. The article explains that “the U.S. is the only developed country in the world that lets insurance companies profit from basic health coverage.” In the world's poor nations, sick people pay out of pocket for medical care; those who can't pay stay sick or die. In the United States, an MRI scan of the neck region costs about $1,500. In Japan, the identical scan costs $98. Foreign health insurance companies must accept all applicants and can't cancel as long as premiums are paid.

The U.S. needs a public option for those who can't afford health insurance so they can have an equal chance to survive like the people of other advanced countries.

Cheryl Orengo, Asheville

Source : http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090831/OPINION02/90828029/1006