Thanks to Seven Days for [“Code Red,” May 7], on how the state’s health care leaders are scrambling to prevent another colossal insurance hike in rates or the implosion of the state’s health care system. It is excessively telling and sad that Rep. Alyssa Black (D-Essex), chair of the House Health Care Committee, and three other members of her committee have to go without health insurance because “the unrelenting price hikes” have elevated costs beyond their reach, and they are legislators.
These legislators who have to go without health insurance are in a position to at least do something about it. We are not. I support that health insurance should be part of serving as a legislator, yet only as long as we who are paying it do not have to go without.
The trouble with this newest crisis is that it is déjà vu. We’ve been here before. It seems like we never leave it. Every year Blue Cross Blue Shield is hitting us up through the Green Mountain Care Board for another “major insurance hike.” After this year’s hike is granted, it’ll be the same or similar next year, the year after that and so on.
Rep. Lori Houghton (D-Essex Junction) said of BCBS: “If we lose them, we’re screwed.” Maybe we’ll be even more screwed if we keep them instead of finally, at last, adopting a publicly funded health care system.
Walter Carpenter
Montpelier