Health Care Reform Not a Black & White Issue

To the Editor:

In the debate over health care reform, too many people have taken a black and white view on what reform might mean. People worry that our current system will be swallowed up by a new one that leaves us without choices, i.e. “socialized medicine.”

But this isn’t an either/or proposition, and we shouldn’t fall into that trap. We are creative enough to enhance our own system and fill in the gaps to make it work for everybody. We need to find our own American solution to our health care crisis.

When our son Devon was diagnosed with asthma, we did not have health insurance. His prescriptions totaled over $600 per month, and an employer-offered group plan would have cost us $900 per month. An independent plan would have cost $300-$500 per month, but that plan would not have covered any costs related to his asthma since it was a “pre-existing condition.” So our only alternative was to pay for his prescription out of pocket. During this time, I spent 35% of my income just to cover just Devon’s medical conditions.

I know our story is not unique. Americans across this country are at the mercy of unreliable employer-based plans. Too many of us fall through the cracks. Reform is about increasing efficiency, lowering costs, and guaranteeing continuity of coverage. Now is not the time for black and white arguments. Now is the time for open minds, and better alternatives in health care. Reform is not about replacing our current system. It is about making it work for everyone again.

- Amy Ingersoll
Bismarck