Affordable Health Care, a Must

By Joanne (Toone) Gilbert

The future of our families depends on quick action from our legislature to solve the healthcare problem in America.

THE HEALTHCARE PROBLEM

Today, the health care pendulum has shifted to include all Americans regardless of race, age or gender. There is a rising number of uninsured the poor, the homeless, seniors and children with no or limited access to health care. The cost and declining quality of care, is making health care the predominant domestic issue for Americans today.

The future of our families depends on quick action from our legislature to solve this problem. America needs to quickly come up with a plan that will provide affordable comprehensive, services including long term care and affordable prescription cost for everyone. America has gone too long with the burden of choosing between providing health care for a family member and putting food on the table. This has been a factor for far too many families and the number is rising.

SOLUTION

Insuring America's Health concludes by recommending that the following four components must be a part of health insurance coverage.

1. Healthcare coverage should be continuous.

2. Healthcare coverage should be affordable.

3. The health insurance strategy should be affordable and sustainable for society.

4. Health insurance should enhance health and well being by promoting access to high-quality care that is effective, efficient, safe, timely, patient-centered, and equitable.

Whether we create a single-payer non-profit system or make health insurance mandatory for individuals and businesses to pay into, something must be done to stop our friends and family from getting unaffordable Emergency Room bills.

RESULTS

The eminence of our country is declining because many of the resources that we hold so dear are becoming far removed from our reach due to outlandish cost. Children suffer and attend school sick because parents can't afford to take them to the doctor for preventive care. "You can't educate children if they are not healthy and you can't keep children healthy if they are not educated." said Dr. C. Everett Koop, former Attorney Surgeon General. The health care situation needs to be addressed immediately for the sake of everyone.