Why are we arguing about health care? Why, in this day and age, does anyone question a person’s right to get needed medical attention?

The strength of a country, a society or a culture is sustained through the education and well-being of its citizens. Without a well-educated citizenry, safety cannot be secured, innovation cannot occur and progress cannot take place. Without good health, education cannot take place.

“Research has repeatedly shown that individuals who have health insurance are much more likely to get timely and appropriate care, whether coverage is through their job, Medicare (the federal program for people over age 65 and those with disabilities) or Medicaid (a federal-state program for certain groups of low income people). People without insurance often delay getting needed care until such a time that it requires emergency attention, and then they face significant financial barriers to treatment and follow up,” according to a Maine Health Access Foundation news release on Jan. 28.

The United States has the resources to ensure all people receive the care they need. I believe it’s immoral that some U.S. families have more money than they will ever use in three lifetimes, when, at the same time, some families don’t have enough food on their table or income to obtain necessary medications.

The United States is the only advanced nation that does not have universal health care. Out of all the industrialized countries, why is it that only the U.S. cannot afford health care for its citizens? What haven’t we learned that all the other countries have learned?

Maggie Ricker, Chelsea


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