To the Editor:
Every day, many constituents write or call my office to share with me their personal stories. Often, I hear about their troubles in obtaining a passport or of the difficulties they are experiencing with their mortgage lender. But, perhaps more than any other concern, they tell me of their family’s struggles to stay healthy or to get treatment when they become sick without health insurance. They tell me how they have worked all their lives, only to lose their retirement savings when they need serious medical treatment, even when they believed that their health insurance was sufficient.
It is unacceptable that one in five Americans is uninsured and that over 85 percent of the uninsured are hard working families. Furthermore, since 2000, premiums have more than tripled while wages have stood still. Now is the time to act, for each day we delay, an additional 14,000 Americans lose coverage. Real change must come soon.
Individuals are not the only ones demanding action; businesses are, too. Small businesses have been particularly challenged with their health insurance costs, having increased 129 percent since 2000. Often at times, the high expense of private health plans force small businesses to forego health insurance for their employees in order to keep their business afloat. If we do not act now, health care spending will rise to more than one-fifth of the economy by 2018. We cannot wait.
I am pleased that, finally, Congress will be taking action to fix our health care system. We have begun to consider health care reform to ensure that every American has access to affordable and quality health care. While it is still uncertain what the final legislation may look like, I am encouraged that positive change will emerge.
I would like to take this opportunity to let you know where I stand on this important issue. There are four items that I would like to see included in the final legislation. First, we must ensure coverage so that each of us has access to health care. Second, we must ensure that people can get high quality treatments when they need it. Third, we must contain costs while investing in preventative care. Finally, individuals must be guaranteed their choice of health insurance plans and doctors.
If we can pass a bill that incorporates these four principles, we will have made a real and lasting impact on people’s lives. And more importantly, my constituents will not have to choose between their child’s education against their own cancer treatment or their retirement against treatment of their spouse’s chronic illness. I feel very fortunate to be serving you at this critical time in history and to be able to work on your behalf on such a vital issue.
CONGRESSMAN ALBIO SIRES