HMO is Cheaper Without Medicare

In your article “The Graying of HMOs” (Feb. 27), I couldn’t help but think there was something wrong. The article states that “the government ... spends an average of $400 a month for each Medicare patient enrolled in an HMO.”

In my rather casual survey of HMO prices, I found two HMOs in Southern California that would have enrolled me (age 70) as an individual member for under $200 a month. I cannot figure out why it costs the government twice as much as it would if I subscribed individually. Can you?

MASSE BLOOMFIELD

Canoga Park