Health insurance numbers not adding up

OK, let's keep it

simple.

1. Since 2002 our health insurance premiums have gone up 87 percent. Did you notice?

2. Today, seven out of 10 American families forced to file bankruptcy because of medical expenses had medical insurance. Do you know any of them?

3. And, the top 10 insurance companies' profits have risen 428 percent. Not bad, but could be better, right?

All figures are according to Harper's Index, but, please, check for yourself.

What are the best ways to fix the first two issues?

Again, let's keep it simple.

1. Call the president “Hitler.”

2. Announce that he was not born in America, and is not the president.

3. Tell everyone he wants to kill Grandma.

There, that should fix it.

Now, how can we, the American people, help raise the third number (insurance companies' profits) even higher?

And I think it will be best for them if we don't work together, OK?

Mary Magner

Cedar Rapids