In a report released Nov. 26, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office reported that by 2019 Americans earning less than $30,000 a year would be worse off under the new Senate tax reform bill. By 2021, Americans earning $40,000 or less would be net losers, and by 2027, most people earning less than $75,000 a year would be worse off. Meanwhile, millionaires and those earning $100,000 to $500,000 would be big beneficiaries. The main reason the poor get hit so hard in the Senate GOP bill is because the poor would receive less government aid for health care. If enacted, this tax bill will make health care worse in this country.

It's fairly well accepted that the U.S. is the most expensive health system in the world, but many continue to falsely assume that we pay more for health care because we get better health (or better health outcomes). The evidence, however, clearly doesn't support that view.

A 2016 ranking by the Commonwealth Fund put the United States in last place based on overall performance in 10 developed countries, and a World Health Report 2000 ranked U.S. 37th between Costa Rica and Slovenia in overall health care. 

Bruce Dasinger

East Lyme