On December 7, 2016

The next healthcare victim? Quite possibly you

Dear Editor,

A healthcare crisis is coming down the road at very high speed. Getting rid of the ACA (Obamacare) is one of our new president’s top priorities. That will end subsidized health insurance under the ACA, and the ACA’s expansion of Medicaid. Millions of people, including many, many thousands of Vermonters, will rapidly become unable to afford trips to doctors and hospitals. Medicare, already too expensive for many seniors, is also looking at “reform” to make it even less useful.
None of the alternatives being tossed around will help these people much. Buying insurance across state lines? Not helpful when you can’t afford the premiums. Expanding the use of Health Savings Accounts? Not helpful to people who don’t have the income to fund the accounts, and the tax benefits mean nothing to people with incomes so low they pay little to no income taxes. If you are unemployed, disabled, or a member of the working poor, you’re already in serious danger of being unable to get healthcare. If you are working and not quite poor, you are next. That’s a certainty—it’s simply a matter of time before rising health care costs, stagnant wages and the replacement of good jobs with bad jobs drops you into the growing mass of people unable to get the healthcare that you and your family need.
Clearly the libertarian/conservative movement—those largely well educated, well dressed, affluent people who think that government should ignore those who are not as fortunate—intends to drastically reduce the supports available to ordinary Americans. They spend an amazing amount of money and effort convincing the people that government concern for its citizens’ health and well being is a horrible thing.
But they can only do that if the majority of people let them. But we are still a democracy. It’s “our” town, “our” county, “our” state and “our” country. And “our” means all of us.
It’s time to do something if you care about yourself, your family, your friends and neighbors. Voting is necessary, of course, but it will take more to stop the systematic dismantling of public support. Find a political party and become active. Attend the meetings, choose the leaders, become a leader yourself. Find a local group that supports your interests and join it. Speak up when people attack public programs. And for Pete’s sake, tell your legislators how you feel about this.

Lee Russ, Bennington

Do you want to submit feedback to the editor?

Send Us An Email!

Related Posts

Medical debt relief is a direct investment in Vermonters

February 5, 2025
By Vermont Treasurer Mike Pieciak As Vermont’s Treasurer, I am committed to making investments that lower costs, strengthen our economy, and support healthier communities. I believe every Vermonter deserves a fair shot at success, regardless of the situation they are born into. Yet, for too many Vermonters, the cost of health care stands in the…

Tariffs

February 5, 2025
President Trump’s warning of tariffs on neighboring countries, Mexico and Canada, and critical trading partner China got off to a false start on Monday, Feb. 3, with the current administration putting the plan on hold after conversations with Mexico and Canada. A trade war is already brewing with China, who countered with tariffs on U.S.…

Fishers in crisis, action needed

February 5, 2025
Dear Editor, I am a conservation biologist with a specific interest in wildlife. Last April, I wrote and submitted a paper to the Vermont Fish and Wildlife board (FWB) summarizing the results from numerous studies across the U.S. and Canada indicating that anticoagulant rodenticide (AR) threatens fisher populations. Vermont had the highest exposure rate among…

MVSU district explains budget, cuts

February 5, 2025
Dear Editor, Editor’s note: the following letter was addressed specifically to members of the Mountain Views School District. As the vote on the MVSD budget approaches, we wish to further clarify the decisions that were made in the creation of this budget. Through months of meetings with the administration and board members, and consideration of…