Why are we so upset because some people have to change their insurance this year or because premiums have increased for some? This has happened every year for decades under our old health care system. Now, for the first time, under the Affordable Care Act, everyone can buy insurance, even if they are sick or low income.
No one will have their insurance canceled because they fall ill or have an accident. No one will be denied coverage if they lose their job or their spouse divorces them or they graduate from high school. No one will discover the insurance policy they have been paying for years will not cover their surgery or mental health care or prescription drugs. And it’s budget neutral.
The health care industry will pay some higher taxes or take lower reimbursement from the government to pay for this better system because they will have more insured patients. OK, there are a few bugs in the rollout. These will undoubtedly be fixed and the American health care system, which has been failing to care for many Americans for decades, will finally give everyone access to the high-quality health care most of us have been privileged to have.
Why aren’t we celebrating?!
Sharlee Giere
Battle Ground
