I’m one of the lucky ones; I have good health care insurance. But I know this is a tentative condition that could change and I have many people in my life who are not so lucky.

Let’s begin with my two kids who are entering the workforce after attending college. Will they be lucky enough to get a job, much less one with health care benefits, in this economic climate?

And my friend who was laid off and knows she has until September to find another job that has health benefits or else she and her family will not be covered.

I have other friends who have known medical conditions who pray that they or their spouse will not get laid off as they would not be accepted by another insurer.

Other friends who are energized and skilled to try a new career but feel stuck in their current position because their health care benefits won’t go with them.

Does any of this make sense or make us a more vital, productive society? Is it fair that I’m lucky and the others are not?

We need the ability of all citizens to have health care benefits. I believe in a single-payer (publicly financed, privately provided) system such as HR 676. At the very least, a publicly financed program needs to be an option. Uncovered people don’t receive primary care and often resort to the emergency room when their health becomes compromised. Uncovered people can’t afford prescriptions and become sicker. Uncovered people live in fear of becoming sick or having an accident and being left untreated or bankrupt. We need meaningful change in our health care system, and this will only happen if we tell our representatives, over and over.

Joyce Peterson

Oak Harbor