Loud gripes on health care have no real basis

In the 30-plus years that I have volunteered for the American Cancer Society, approximately 15 million Americans and almost 200,000 Iowans have died from cancer. We will never know how many of them might be alive today if they had received adequate health care, but did not because of a broken system.

Yet, in the face of this harsh reality, we hear Sen. Chuck Grassley and others repeating sound bites about mythical “death panels” and “government-run health care” that have no basis in reality. In talking about scaling back the scope of health care reform, they let those who yell the loudest at town hall meetings be rewarded at the expense of those who have no voice in this debate - those for whom access to quality health care is an illusion and who die from disease at a higher rate than those who have coverage.

The bills that await debate when Congress returns to Washington next month all contain provisions that will significantly improve the health care system for everyone, but particularly those with cancer - by ensuring that no one will be denied coverage because of pre-existing medical conditions, placing increased emphasis on disease prevention, guaranteeing access to and renewal of health insurance regardless of health status and eliminating annual and lifetime caps on benefits.

Let's be a nation dedicated to the health and welfare of all of its citizens - not just those who can afford it.

Gary Streit

Cedar Rapids