To the Editor:
I appreciate the Addison Independent’s coverage of healthcare bills ready for consideration by our state legislators. As our federal government destroys healthcare safety nets, we can start addressing the problem here in Vermont.
The cost of health insurance is astronomical. Too many people are unable to access care until something catastrophic occurs.
63% of young adults 18-24 are underinsured. They cannot afford out-of-pocket costs, so they delay care. I knew a young woman who should have seen a doctor but couldn’t afford the cost so put it off until cancer had reached an advanced stage. This is wrong.
We all have friends whose health insurance plans carry $10,000 deductibles, and premiums for these catastrophic plans are not cheap. Many underinsured folks have health insurance through their place of employment, the cost of which further burdens employers.
H.433 proposes a path for addressing this issue, starting with publicly funded universal primary care for all Vermonters. Dr. Dynasaur has successfully provided similar care to low income children, teens and pregnant individuals for 28 years, with a 98% participation rate. It works.
Removing insurance companies from the primary care formula will save millions of dollars. That’s what happened when the state of Montana switched to this approach for state employees. With reduced costs for health insurance, our public schools and thus our property taxes will become more affordable.
Clearly, the details need to be worked out, but there are loads of good models. The present situation isn’t working. I urge readers to support H.433 at your town meetings or in Australian ballots. Let’s encourage our legislators to consider public funded primary care.
Alice Leeds
Bristol
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