Health-care system is the problem

Kenneth Nielsen's letter regarding universal health care is not the answer. He states that the figure of 45 million uninsured was inaccurate. He is correct. That figure is actually 48 million and growing.

It is projected that 20 percent of small businesses will drop health care coverage in the next three years due to rising costs adding another 5 million uninsured. More people are adding to the uninsured as unemployment rises.

My husband and I had to purchase private insurance due to his unemployment and were denied for minor health issues but were eligible for the "high risk pool" reinsurance program for more than $1,200 a month. Is that affordable for the middle class? I don't think so.

Of the uninsured, 69 percent of households have at least one full-time employee. So the theory that if the majority of these people had jobs, they would have health insurance is flawed. The No. 1 employer in the U.S. is Walmart; of those employed a Walmart only 52 percent have health insurance. Why?

Because the premiums are not affordable at their low wages. Because the wages are so low, some employees of this corporation are eligible for Medicaid. So in essence the government is subsidizing Walmart.

Kenneth's comment regarding the top reason for rising health care costs is subsidization of Medicare. If that was the reason, we would see those costs reflected in our taxes, not our health care insurance. Healthcare insurance premiums have been rising over 10 percent every year for the last ten years. Why? Just look at the profits of the health insurance companies, pharmaceutical industry and the medical supply industry.

If universal health care is not the answer, then what is? It is time to come together and have an actual discussion about our current system which by all counts is not sustainable.

Eileen Schutte

Palatine