In reply
I appreciate the comments of Dr Berman on my editorial, “Sustaining Optimism.”1 I agree that Medicaid has many problems. However, it does provide insurance coverage for 17 million children in the United States, in contrast to the 9 million children without insurance. Universal coverage, even with Medicaid, is still far off and an improved system of coverage even farther. Right now, it is what we have to work with.