To Louise and Rev. George Carter, the current health care reform debate in the United States comes down to a matter of faith.

The Nevada County couple are members of the Nevada City United Methodist Church and George is a retired Methodist minister.

They believe strongly in one of the United Methodist national conference's social principles, which is: “We believe it is a governmental responsibility to provide all citizens with health care.”

Toward that end, the Carters will deliver a cake to Sen. Dianne Feinstein's San Francisco office today, asking that all Americans get a single-payer health care system like the Medicare they are enjoying as seniors.

The cake delivery (the cake was made by fellow church members Bruce and Dee Ann Bellows) will be on the 44th anniversary of the senior medical program. It reads: “Medicare for All.”

“I thought a cake would be better than a letter, I thought it would get her attention,” Louise said Wednesday. “She (Feinstein) won't be there because Congress is still in session, but we'll see a representative. We're going to say we're serious, we love Medicare and it should be available to everyone.”

The Carters said a single-payer system in which all premiums are paid into one pot administered by the government for payouts would save mountains of paperwork, time and make health care more equitable across the country.

“I think we need to get the profit out of health care,” Louise said. “I have a friend who pays $500 a month for health insurance and has a $5,000 deductible. That's inequitable compared to what I have.”

Louise does not have an idea on how hospitals and other medical care providers struggling to cover operating costs with low Medicare reimbursement rates can adjust, but realizes they need to make enough to at least get by. She said private health insurance companies could still sell supplemental insurance under her vision.

George Carter said he has had no problem finding physicians who take Medicare in three different towns over 10 years, having gone to “multiple doctors for multiple surgeries,” for skin cancer.

“Maybe some are not willing,” to take Medicare, George said. “Let them go to Park Avenue and charge high fees.”

Former Methodist minister and fellow Nevada City church-goer Don Baldwin agrees with the Carters.

“Our church has been outspoken about health care for all,” Baldwin said. “Our motivation is based on faith. Jesus was a healer.”

When it comes to health care, “The rich can pay, they don't suffer,” Baldwin said. “Those at the bottom fall off first.”

To contact Senior Staff Writer Dave Moller, e-mail dmoller@theunion.com or call 477-4237.