Another Reminder That Our Health Care System Is Woefully Inadequate

A recent Watchdog article about Brenna Kearney's three-year battle with Lurie Hospital, Northwestern Medicine and Blue Cross over their predatory and deceptive billing practices was a valuable warning.

But, as American medical reports always do, they ignore the elephant in the room: In no other developed country in the world are patients and their families going through the financial ordeal that Ms. Kearney went through and that thousands of Americans cross over every year. .

All but one rich country and a growing number of middle-income and poor countries have universal health care, meaning that "everyone has access to the full range of health services they need, whenever they need it." and where he needs it. they need without financial hardship” (World Health Organization).

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The exception is, of course, the United States. As a result, despite the fact that we spend more per capita on healthcare than any other country, our healthcare system is consistently the worst in the developed world. We are the only wealthy country where a serious illness, injury or complicated pregnancy can lead to financial ruin.

Why do we tolerate it? Partly because most of us don't realize how bad our system is compared to the rest of the world. We believe that our system is normal and inevitable. Neither. But as long as our media continues to ignore this fact, Americans will not be informed and angry enough to demand change.

Richard A. Stewart, West Ridge

Chicago infrastructure issues

As Chicago politicians continue to worry about their political well-being, our visible urban infrastructure is collapsing before our eyes.

Most of the lamp posts along DuSable Lake Shore Drive are rusting because instead of paying more for stainless steel posts, they installed regular steel posts which now require sanding, priming and painting before they rust. Passing through the Hubbard Tunnel on the Ryan-Kennedy road, no signs of tiling or other repairs are visible.

Politicians love to pose as shiny shovels in new areas, but they don't seem to have the budget to sustain what we've already invested in. Switching to streetlights that use less electricity made sense, but either there is regular maintenance or we have to replace a significant number with newer ones at today's high prices.

Chicago's new structural sets are the pride of the city, but they all require constant maintenance. Our mayors no longer have the budget for this?

Ted M. Manuel, Hyde Park

Re_Urban Playground with Tim Gill