The editorial "The 30 percent solution" (Dec. 30) claimed that "Americans spent more than $2.5 trillion on health care last year" while "46 million of us [went] without any health insurance. Unfortunately, these statements are misleading.
The popular "46 million uninsured" figure includes 10 million people who have annual incomes above $75,000. The figure also includes about 14 million people who are eligible for government programs such as Medicaid or State Children's Health Insurance Program but have neglected to enroll. Is it fair to count as uninsured those who don't take advantage of public programs or those who choose not to buy policies?
If we're to solve the serious problems facing the U.S. health care system, it's critical that we get the facts right.
