Don’t wait to reform health care

To the Editor:

Can we afford not to reform health care insurance? The system is broke and for-profit insurance companies will continue to raise premiums and deny claims if we do nothing.

Whether you desire HR 3200, public option plan, or HR 676, single-payer plan, make your desires known to senators and representatives. It would also help to call the White House. State who you are, your ZIP code and which plan you desire.

Congress is hung up on the public option and would dilute it, making it ineffective. They are into the lobbyists for campaign funding and worried about re-elections funds over the good of the nation. The single-payer option was not even allowed at the discussion table.

Single-payer would be an expansion of Medicare or similar to a veterans plan for everyone. President Obama admits the U.S. can't provide coverage to all Americans without single-payer.

The public option will continue to allow for-profits to dictate the who’s, when’s and where’s. Without strict control they will continue to raise rates, deny claims and turn large profits.

Congress enjoys a taxpayer-paid plan with many choices. How can they remain so hypocritical against the very people who elect them?

Act now before they strip any hopes for reform. Remind representatives that they work for us and not lobbyists.

If we don't act, we will receive another watered-down piece of legislation that protects insurance companies and does little for us. Worse, we will receive no change. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, this is an economic and humanitarian issue.

We need to demand campaign reform. Taking funds from lobbyists to influence legislation is immoral. The insurance companies have heavily swayed constitutional representation to the brink of corporatism over capitalism.

Employers need health care off their shoulders and single payer would accomplish that. We are in debt to China like never before in history. We lack oversight, regulation and integrity nationally as greedy politicians and special interest groups decide how our future will play out.

Call to voice your opinion.

Sen. Amy Klobuchar (202) 224-3244

Sen. Al Franken

(202) 224-5641

Rep. John Kline

(888) 808-6644

White House reception:

Comments

(202) 456-1111

TTY/TDD (202) 456-6213

Sue Oelkers

Red Wing

Tags: health care reform, opinion, letters