After reading Rita Crowell’s letter in the Globe (Nov. 9), I felt I just had to respond. I don’t believe she has even read the health care bill that was passed. I read a summary of the bill and here are the highlights:
-- It allows credits for individuals with an income level of 400 percent over poverty ($43,000 for single; $88,000 for a family of four) in order to purchase health insurance on the competitive market.
-- Caps annual out-of-pocket spending that will limit the amount of money families will have to spend on their own medical expenses. This should prevent bankruptcies for medical bills.
-- Increases competition among health care insurance companies to help lower health care premiums.
-- Expands Medicaid eligibility in all states. Now states individually make those decisions.
-- Removes the doughnut hole over time so seniors and the disabled do not have to choose between eating and medications.
-- Businesses with a payroll of less than $250,000 will be exempt from penalties. Businesses over that will be required to provide health insurance to their employees or self fund the system themselves. Most do now.
-- Expand community health centers.
-- Give tax credits to employers who provide wellness training to employees. It is much less expensive to keep people healthy than to treat them when they become ill.
Both the American Association of Retired Persons and the American Medical Association have come out and endorsed this bill. There is specific wordage that abortions will not be funded by government money.
We are the strongest country in the world, yet we can’t take care of our less fortunate? Not everyone has health care, can afford health care or can be issued health care. That is the shame in this country. I too will call my senators and representatives. A no vote for health care will bring a no vote from me next time they are in danger of being unemployed. They might lose their pension, health care and job along with others. It is time for Congress to get serious and quit going party lines.
Donna Harlan
Sarcoxie
