Today’s L.A. Times letter to the editor, because our voices matter:

Re “Another surgery — while knee-deep in the red tape,” Column, Jan. 6

Steve Lopez asks, “Can’t we switch to a healthcare system instead of a paper-shuffling, profit-driven, CEO-bonus-building system?” Great question.

There are dozens of for-profit health insurance companies astride the U.S. healthcare “system.” Besides profits for their owners, their premiums must pay for exorbitant executive salaries and benefits, lobbyists in Washington, political contributions, marketing programs, lawyers and lawsuits, redundant computer systems and staffs trained to deny claims. These parasitical organizations contribute nothing to actual healthcare.

One day a single-payer system will provide better care at less cost and aggravation. As Winston Churchill said, “Count on Americans to do the right thing — after they’ve tried everything else.”

Ed Carstens

Santa Clarita

Today’s L.A. Times letters to the editor, because our voices matter:

The high cost of healthcare

Re “Healthcare’s rising costs,” Editorial, Sept. 29

The Times succinctly states that “Americans can’t afford to wait long for relief” from rising healthcare costs.

I recently had my carotid arteries scanned. The contractor who performed the procedure said he no longer performs diagnostic procedures outside Orange County because the insurance companies are paying him half of what they used to. In the meantime, my premiums have increased 38% over the last three years, my office co-pays have risen and my deductible has climbed to $1,000. You don’t need an MBA to figure out who is receiving the difference.

What amazes me is how many average Americans who, like me, continue to be fleeced by private insurers, are adamantly opposed to a public option for healthcare delivery. Medicare‘s overhead is a far smaller share of costs than private insurers’. If putting everyone on Medicare is socialized medicine, sign me up.

Matt Giorgi

Brea

Healthcare costs are definitely a severe problem, and the more subtle results are disturbing.

In my case, I am a sole-proprietor small business and an Anthem Blue Cross customer. I have increased my deductible to $5,000 to help reduce my monthly payments. Consequently, in my family of four we rarely visit the doctor unless the problem is life or job threatening. In essence, I am paying for catastrophic care. I am sure mine is not the only insured family that suffers through an illness to save money in this economy.

I am in complete support of our state’s and federal government’s attempts to rein in these astronomical medical costs.

Bob Bruton

Torrance