Published: 8/14/2017 8:09:29 AM
Should health care be a human right, or should it be a privilege for those who can afford it? Despite the passage of the Affordable Care Act, rising health insurance premiums, co-pays and deductibles, and uncontrolled prescription drug prices force too many people to drop their health insurance or to avoid primary care or medications that could help keep them alive and healthy.
Tens of thousands of Americans under age 65 who lack health insurance die prematurely each year. It doesn’t have to be this way. People should not have to choose between paying for rent or food and seeing a doctor. The Massachusetts legislature can take the lead in adopting universal health care for all its residents, at a lower cost for the state government and for most residents and businesses than we now pay for our for-profit insurance coverage, and can do away with the co-pays and deductibles that insurers increasingly pass on to us.
I applaud members of the Northampton City Council who are sponsoring “A Resolution In Support of Bill S. 619 — An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts.” Please come to the Aug. 17 City Council meeting and support the resolution and the Massachusetts bill. If you believe that health care should be a universal human right, help make it happen in Massachusetts. Support the City Council resolution and ask your state legislators to support S. 619 and HB 2987.
Judi Wisch
Northampton