How would we pay for Medicare for All? Higher taxes for all?

When I read Erin Stewart’s Aug. 8 letter to the editor (“Congress, pass Medicare for All”) , I noted that it may be the first of its kind to talk about the real costs of Medicare for All, and she was looking for a solution. She noted potential savings of $592 billion by eliminating private insurance and negotiating drug prices.

Since Medicare for All will cost about $3 trillion per year, where does the other $2.4 trillion per year, come from?

Perhaps those who write to the editor about entitlement programs for all, should include the “how to pay for it” in their letters. I notice it is almost always missing.

Currently, our federal taxes take in a little over $3 trillion per year. So we either double everyone’s federal income tax or find another way? I have a sense that very few people would be interested in doubling their income tax payments to offer free Medicare to those who are not contributing to pay it on their own.

Perhaps those who want all of these free-for-everyone programs, could double their income tax payments for a start and leave the rest of us who understand that it is not financially possible to do this, to just pay our current rate of taxes? They are plenty high as it is.

There is nothing stopping any of you who want to pay double income taxes from doing so. The Department of Treasury would be happy to take your checks. Once you start doing that, then write your letters.

Ken Oakes

Mill Creek