Evening star., 1949-04-28
Yes:

Federal Security Administrator
Oscar r. Ewing and other pro-
ponents Of the plan. explain 1t this
way:
4 The crux of the whole question
| of better health is the simple mat
ter Of paying for it. Expanded re-
! search. doctor training. more and
, better hospitals and basic public
health are essential parts Of
!, Presidents Truman's. program.
Good care must be available to
1 the public. But 1t loses i'm
portance if the public can't
afford to get it.
4 II you are an average citizen,
paying for the things you
get and maintaining a decent
standard of living, you won't be
able to stand a catastrophe ILL.,
ness that might easily cost
thousands of dollars. In such an
illness. you would be out Of q
job, at least temporarily.
Too many people neglect going
to doctor for minor ills because
they don't have the money. Many
OF these ills could be prevented
from becoming serious. And
only the wealthy can afford really
good preventive care.
People Avoided Charity.
Most proposals calling for
grants to States for development
of their own program would re-
quire that people admit they are
charity patients. This wouldn't
work. Administration leaders feel,
because most Americans don't
like to take charity. And. more
important, they don't like to ask
for it.
|, Compulsory health insurance Is
not a dole. Every one would be
paying his own way, according to
his ability. based on fair pay
roll tax of 1l2 per cent of his
earnings. The medically in
digent" would fade out Of the
picture, because this plan would
cover nearly every one.
American medicine has made
tremendous strides. But expenses
pile up with every advancement.
The public must find way to be
able to afford them and the ad-
vancements that are to come.
Compulsory health insurance
should work better in this country
than anywhere in the world, be-
cause it takes a strong system Of
medicine to make it work.
American medicine is rightfully
proud that doctors have varied
fees in accordance with patients
ability to pay. This is just what
the compulsory plan would do.
Further than that. however. is
the relief that would come from
the worry about unpredictable
medical bills. These expenses
cannot be a part of the average
family budget, because their size
and frequency can't be planned.
Brookings Recommended ations Cited.
The Brookings Institution last
year made a comprehensive study
of compulsory health insurance
proposals that was generally un-
favorable to the proposals. One
of its major recommendations was
that such issues be left for States
to determine in their own pro-
grams.
Replying to the report. DR..
Michael Davis, chairman OF the
Committee on Research in Medi-
cal Economies. answered that even
this recommendation seems to be
acceptance in principle or at least
liberation" of compulsory insur-
ance.
Mr.. Ewing, in his report to the
President last year on the Nations
health. said compulsory insurance
must be the heart Of q co-ordi-
mated plan to improve it. To COM
plants of great cost. he an
swe, cd that the Government must
accept its responsibility to spend
more for health.
He declared that every year
325, 900 people die whom we have
the knowledge and the skills to
save"
Another indication of the ma
tional need for better health can
be found in a study Of draft re-
/ 1jections during the last war. More
than 10000 men were deter
mined unfit for service, Mr.. Ewing
said.
Six Billion Yearly.
Exclusive of health insurance, >.
he proposed that the Federal Gov
ernment alone spend $2,312,-
900 900 on civilian health bq 1860.
Authorities concede there is no
way to estimate exact costs Of
compulsory health insurance, but
the most frequent figure men
toned is $4,000, ,000. 900 every year,
most of it paid by people who get
the benefits.
/ Citing the large amounts spent
on medical care already, Senator
Humphrey. Democrat, of Mime
sofa, said the insurance plan is
probably the greatest economy
program we have ever had" be-
cause of savings thaat would re-
suit from better health.
Il For the vast majority of wage
learners. Mr.. Ewing said, nation
al health insurance program
would be compulsory just as
social security coverage is COM
pulsory. 1t is not "socialized
medicine" he said, because the
Iplan would be locally controlled
and administered.
1 Flexible Program.
4 The role of Government in the
program would be to collect
money and make payments for
service. In cases where facilities
iare not adequate enough for cer-
Itain services, he said. "the pat
tern will be cut to At the CLOTH"
4 Mr.. Ewing pointed out that the
AAr m