1. I too have gone through treatment for tonsil cancer. I am two years out, and quarterly PET/CT scans are negative. I cannot swallow solids, however, and take my nutrition through a tube in my abdomen. My insurance—a policy designed for the catastrophic—was inadequate, and I faced in excess of $75,000 from my own pocket over and above what the insurance company paid.

2. I have reasoned opinions about health care:

A) The first thing we must agree on, and this must be a national dialogue that is at the forefront of all discussion on the subject, is that Health Care is a right of the citizenry. To oppose this position is de facto to favor Health Care for only those who can afford it–the prevailing position today.

B) We cannot get at the nub of Health Care delivery without addressing the issue of physicians’ exposure to the threat of mal-practice litigation. Therefore, to fix the Health Care system is to include a government sponsored program of malpractice insurance. This would be similar to government participation in Flood insurance–when an insurance carrier won’t write someone with a beach house on Cape Hatteras, the homeowner obtains the government backed flood insurance that is acceptable to his mortgage company.

C) Student loan programs for medical students must be thoroughly examined to provide more manageable obligations. Low interest, no interest, Repayment programs for Public Health volunteers—the whole area must be examined to reduce the burden that medical graduates face. It is no wonder that a young doctor coming out of his residency and internships with a six-figure student loan overhang wants to join the most lucrative practice he can.

Let’s try this for a start. I have no idea where this memo will wind up. I hope it is useful, and remain available for further conversation.
Edward S. Van Winkle
ESRipVW@aol.com