Letters to the Editor for Monday, November 23, 2009

Health reforms we can all agree on
It probably shouldn’t surprise me, but what have Republicans and Democrats found as common ground on health care reform? I don’t claim the ideas below, but I think they’re relatively non-offensive. I don’t think these would balloon last year’s $1.4 trillion deficit or cover everyone, but I think they’re reforms that make sense as a “Part 1” step towards a better system.

* Make a scholarship fund to create more doctors. It takes eight years or so to have a new doctor and if you don’t want lines and more crowded waiting rooms, we’ll need more doctors to cover the new patients once insurance is required.

* Allow buying insurance across state lines. It makes more options and more competition. While some think it’s a public option that creates competition, there are not many plans competing with the public option of Medicare.

* Forbid denial of anyone. While the premium may be high, there has to be an offer for coverage.

* Forbid pre-existing conditions for those who either change jobs or are unemployed for less than a year.

* Reduce the number of illnesses that are required to be covered in insurance plans; some may only be able to afford plans with fewer things covered.

* Require that everyone have, at a minimum, a federally structured catastrophic care plan. Many people can’t afford large plans now, some do pay their bills without insurance, but none of us could handle costs for catastrophic care without insurance.

* Medical malpractice reductions: Isn’t it around $20 of every bill for routine checkups just to cover that?

* Medical bankruptcy protection because people shouldn’t lose their house because of catastrophic illness.

If they make sense to you as a first set of thing both parties can agree to, suggest them to your senator. I’ve tried to center them around both personal responsibility and insurance reform.

If they don’t sound good for even a base set of ideas for reform, write up your ideas and send them in for us to read and discuss.
MIKE COBB
Lynchburg

Where do they stand?
Much has been said regarding this year’s most hotly debated issue: heath care reform. However it is difficult, if not impossible, to determine the positions being taken by our U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb.

It has been rumored that they have developed general principles they support for crafting health reform legislation. But just what does that mean exactly? Do they or do they not favor the creation of a government health insurance option? We certainly have a right to know.

I, personally, oppose the creation of a public option. Such an option would be largely funded by businesses, which has a direct negative impact on our state’s economy and our citizens.

I would encourage all Virginians to join with me in writing our senators to let them know how you feel about this government takeover of our health care system and to urge them to vote against any such plan in Congress.

In these times, we need leaders who are willing to take a stand against political party pressure and conduct the business of the people and for the people!
STEVEN M SHOCKLEY
Lynchburg