Missing community spaces in downtown Portsmouth: Letters

Missing community spaces in downtown Portsmouth

Aug. 22 − To the Editor:

In 1985, I moved to Portsmouth and fell in love with this vibrant little city. Biking around town was the way I learned about the city. At the time, Café Brioche was a fixture in Market Square. The corner it occupied was a gathering place for so many people! The outside seating was a community area that allowed people to meet, sit and chat, and enjoy the superior baked goods and coffee that Cafe Brioche offered.

When there was a change in 2004, and Breaking New Grounds opened, I was sad and missed Café Brioche, but BNG soon became well-loved by the citizenry – providing a space for community gathering as well as coffee and bakery goods.

Fast forward to Tuscan Market. While I still own my home in Portsmouth, I do spend much of the year in a warmer place. When I come back to Portsmouth, one of the saddest things to me is the lack of the community gathering spot on the corner in the square.

Yes, there have been changes over the years. When I bought my house in the West End, it was not considered a great location. Now it has become the “hot West End” and home values have soared, with property and homes in much demand. But the change on the corner in Market Square makes me very sad, as with the change there, a whole community of folks who loved spending time there lost out when the building was sold to people who did not care about the history of the area.

Nancy E. Yarmac

Portsmouth

Dr. Turner: Medicare Advantage plans are a colossal rip-off

August 21 − To the Editor:

Senator Cindy Rosenwald claims in her guest editorial yesterday that “Medicare Advantage plans improve health equity for NH seniors”. Unfortunately, the reality is that Medicare Advantage plans represent a colossal rip-off of the Medicare Trust Fund and an enormous wind-fall for private insurance companies! In addition, Medicare Advantage plans represent an underhanded way to privatize Medicare.

The administrative overhead cost of Traditional Medicare is approximately 2% of the total cost of Medicare, which means that 98% of the funds go to direct medical care. In comparison, under Medicare Advantage plans the administrative costs are in the 15-20% range (and can be as high as 40%). Thus, only 60-80% of the funds go to actual medical benefits. These excessive profits are generated by cherry-picking healthier seniors on initial enrollment, limiting provider networks, regularly up-coding diagnoses to generate more charges, and disenrollment of sicker beneficiaries (“lemon-dropping”). Also, Medicare Advantage plans are notorious for regularly denying care through prior authorization, even when that care is routinely covered under Traditional Medicare. Several companies have been fined and agreed to large settlements due to these violations. In 2019 total Medicare spending was $330 billion, but it is projected that by 2025 Medicare Advantage plans could potentially collect up to $660 billion from the Medicare Trust Fund.

The organization titled Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP) is leading an effort urging CMC to terminate the Medicare Advantage Program. For seniors and people who would like to see more benefits that are promised—but often not delivered—by Medicare Advantage plans, please lobby your representatives and elected officials to improve Traditional Medicare. Improving Traditional Medicare is much more efficient and cost effective than trying to indirectly offer these improvements through private plans at much higher costs.

H. Dixon Turner, MD

Portsmouth

Do Trump's supporters really think he's a serious problem solver?

Aug. 21 -- To the Editor:

Oppositional and defiant.  It is the only way I can describe Americans who continue to support Mr. Trump. Unlike my Canadian friend who fears that “the dumbing down of America has happened”, I see disgruntled Americans who have become emboldened by the previous president to act on their feelings without regard to facts or reason. It is exciting to be the rebel. It relieves anger to mouth off. It feels good to act like you know it all.  Think about it Trump supporters. Do you really think he has the ability to solve America’s real and serious problems?

Tess Holom Schneier

Kittery, Maine

Letter praising Joe Biden doesn't square with my reality

Aug. 21 − To the Editor:

In Reference to Cynthia Muse letter to the editor, Aug. 11, 2023 (Joe Biden's record of accomplishments reveal an effective president). I'm not sure if it's the same 2 1/2 years I am living in. Each reference is 180 degrees different where I am living, My gas and everyday living expenses have doubled to what wages have!

As for Ukraine our nation should have used diplomacy to stop this onslaught, not munitions.

I wonder what her thoughts would be if our borders had unfriendly nations on them and wanted to stop our using the St. Lawrence seaway and our Northern Lakes?

Roy W. Helsel

Portsmouth

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Missing community spaces in downtown Portsmouth: Letters