We can do better on health care

It's a sad reality, when you read that two-thirds of those who declare bankruptcy are doing it because of medical bills. What's more alarming is that those who do declare bankruptcy either have private insurance or insurance through their employer.

Why is this allowed to happen? It is allowed to happen, because we are the only industrial nation that doesn't have universal health care. We are the only industrial nation that puts their citizens between a rock and a hard place when it comes to their health care.

It's unfortunate to read stories of people having to decide whether they are going to pay for their medicine or pay for their groceries. We are the richest country on this planet, yet we rank 28th in the world for quality health care. We are 28th in the world, but we pay more for health care than any other nation. The average out-of-pocket ER bill in this country is $1,389. That is a 176% increase from last decade.

I understand some people's hesitation, and I know that this is not a popular topic for some, but we can do better as a nation. Whether it's through universal medicine or expanding the Affordable Healthcare Act, we must fix our broken system.

This is a great country, and our health care system should be a reflection of our greatness.

Nicholas Carparelli

Crystal Lake