Let's work together on health care solution

Health care reform is critical to improving both the health of the population and the economy. As such, debate is important and necessary to achieve optimal reform. The current dialogue, however, has deteriorated by the influx of myths and untruths about what is being proposed. So instead of discussing how best to insure the 30 million uninsured Americans, there are rants about mythical death panels and screams about socialists and fascists.

I lived in Canada for more than 30 years. There is nothing in the current proposals that even remotely resembles the Canadian health care system.

So what is exactly being proposed?

If you don't have health insurance, the government will provide you with health insurance. If you already have health insurance, here are some benefits of health care reform for you. First, you cannot be denied coverage because of your medical history; an insurance company can't refuse to renew your policy in case you get sick; and they can't drop or water down your coverage. Companies will not be able to dollar cap your annual or lifetime coverage. Finally, there is a proposal to extend coverage family coverage for children until they are 26.

I think those are all good things, except for perhaps the last one. What also needs to be debated is how to pay for all of this and how to reduce the spiraling costs of the health care system. Holding pictures of Obama with a little Hitler mustache and shouting at your congressman or representative may make you feel good temporarily, but it does nothing to solve the health care crisis in this country. The status quo is unsustainable. We need to collectively work on a solution.

Bob Nishikawa

Batavia