A recent study by the prestigious Institute of Medicine said 18,000 Americans die each year because they don't have health insurance. I wonder how many die because they don't have adequate health coverage, because they can't afford the better coverage.
Some can't afford to pay for their medication, glasses and other needs. I find it disgraceful that if you should fall very ill or need extended health care, or must be treated for a terminal illness, all personal property and assets you've worked hard for all your life will be taken away from you and your loved ones. No other industrialized nation rations out health care to the degree the United States does.
More than 10,000 physicians want a national health-care program.
I'm not a physician or involved in any way with any health-care organization. I'm just an American who cares about health care for everyone.
I have health insurance with co-pays for my wife and me. The annual cost of health care for myself and my wife is approximately $2,500, plus co-pays for health, dental and prescription drugs. Yet I consider myself very fortunate that I have that much. What I'm asking you to do is to give the utmost consideration on this matter and any and all help to sponsor a bill that all Americans be given national health insurance for medical, prescription drugs, dental and eyeglasses.
I ask that you visit a very important Web site: www.pnhp.org. There are many more Web sites on health care but this one I found has the most documented information, even on how to implement and pay for the programs discussed there.
I hope to hear a response from you concerning this letter.
I have had national health insurance on my mind for at least 10 years. It is my hope and plan to follow up with phone calls, e-mails and other ways to get my message across to all.
A bill passed on national health insurance would be one of the most important bills you could ever pass. I would hope that both Democrats and Republicans would care enough to put the citizens of this country first. I would hope that if a bill would be sponsored by you, that there would not be any riders on it.
I'm asking all concerned who feel the same way as I do, to write, call or e-mail their local and national representatives.
John Pereschuk
Falling Waters, W.Va.
(Editor's note: There were 10 responses to this letter, including the following: Heidi Marquez, director of presidential correspondence; Cecilia Boyer, special assistant to the vice president for correspondence; Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV, D-W.Va.; Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.; Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va.; Sen. George Allen, R-Va.; Rep. Robin Hayes, R-N.C.; Rep. Robert Wexler, D-Fla.; Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Cal.)
Support our troops overseas
To the editor:
I am the proud father of a young 18-year-old Marine, who served our country this year in Iraq. Kenton Shatzer was severely burned on his face, hands, back and legs. Thanks to the prayers of multitudes, he is completely healed and is back serving in the Marines at Camp Pendleton, Calif.
The following are just a few good reports from Ray Reynolds, SFC, in the Iowa Army National Guard as he returns to Iraq. I and many other Americans have never heard these reports mentioned on our media.
More than 1,500 schools have been renovated and cleared of stored weapons.
School attendance is up 80 percent since before the war.
Girls are allowed to attend school.
More than 400,000 kids now have up-to-date immunizations.
One hundred percent of the hospitals are open and fully staffed, as compared to 35 percent before the war.
More than 4.5 million people have clean drinking water for the first time.
Sewer and water lines are installed in every major city.
More than 80,000 Iraqi soldiers patrol streets side-by-side with U.S. soldiers.
More than 60,000 policemen are patrolling the streets.
