Medicare Reform

Your editorial “Delay Won’t Save Medicare” (Aug. 8) overlooked some important considerations. First, it will not be possible to reform Medicare completely until we have a national health care system, and that’s something many Americans don’t seem to want. Therefore, Medicare will have to be improved on a piecemeal basis. This is best done carefully and after thorough study by a qualified commission. Let’s not rush into a quick fix.

Present Medicare beneficiaries, especially those who retired several years ago, should not have to suffer hardship to shore up the Medicare system for baby boomers. Because of rapid inflation in the ‘80s, workers now are enjoying higher salaries than older retirees received. The baby boomers, who can better afford an increased tax for Medicare, should start to pay soon for the Medicare they will require.

You were right about the urgent need to detect and curb rampant fraud and waste in Medicare. Congress should immediately appropriate funds to do this next year; the Department of Health and Human Services has already investigated this widespread problem.

KATHLEEN HUGHES

Pasadena