Letter: Fair and equitable health care coverage needed

The CBO confirmed our worst fears - 23 million Americans are expected to lose health care coverage over the next 10 years if the House Bill becomes law. Both of our Senators admitted 70,000 Iowans will not be able to get health insurance in 2018 under this legislation.

This is shameful. It will mean that the United States is the only economically-advanced country in the world to penalize its poor and chronically-ill citizens.

Despite Rep. Rod Blum's assurances in his May 22 article 'AHCA is good for Iowans” that the Republican legislation does not deprive folks with pre-existing conditions of their ability to get coverage, the bill does allow states to grant waivers to insurers. These waivers will enable insurers to remove certain health care benefits from their policies and/or increase premiums substantially or deny coverage.

Many of us do not qualify for taxpayer funded programs like Medicare or Medicaid; nor do we have the benefit of subsidized health insurance through our employment (these premiums are not only employer-subsidized, but also taxpayer funded as companies get to deduct all health care contributions on their tax returns, amounting to $235 billion annually of lost tax revenue). All we are asking for is a fair and equitable opportunity to get and pay for comprehensive health care insurance.

Contact Sen. Chuck Grassley and Sen. Joni Ernst plus all 13 Republican Senators and demand that people with pre-existing conditions will be able to get comprehensive coverage with no waivers enabling states to opt out.

Elizabeth Buckeridge

Marion