A few years ago I reviewed Mistreated, a book by Robert Pearl, which looked at, and found wanting, our current medical system. His focus was mainly on the quality of medical care, not its cost or inaccessibility to many Americans. The causes of our poor quality care he lists are the same ones that inflate costs and make care unavailable for many: the fee-for-service model which benefits insurance companies, the drug industry, large medical centers and specialty physicians by rewarding more tests and treatment, not doing things in the patients’ best interests. We pay a ton of money for bad care in order to enrich the powerful, wealthy groups listed above.

Our government enables this system through its Medicare policies because these groups are major contributors to politicians and many congressional districts profit from their large number of employees.

Only drastic change in federal policy will allow us better care, available to all, at a lower cost. That is why Deb and I are strong supporters of Elizabeth Warren’s candidacy for president. She has health care policy right. She also has the knowledge and experience to take on monied interests in medical care, finance, energy and other areas of abuse. She is the candidate big business fears the most.

Most upper middle class and wealthy people like the convenience and TLC that they now receive. Deb and I like it too, but we have a medical background and can weed out most unnecessary tests and procedures suggested to us. What would Warren’s Medicare for all be like for us and others in our position? It would be similar to what is now offered by Kaiser, Intermountain Health Care, the Mayo and Geisinger Cinics: large HMO’s, more impersonal and bureaucratic than we are used to or want, BUT with better care at lower cost, available to all. No more bankruptcies due to a bad luck medical condition; many fewer deaths and bad results due to unnecessary tests and procedures; many fewer poor people suffering because of lack of medical care. This is an trade off we are willing and eager to make.