Letters: Hard to get insurance when you're already sick

While slowing the costs associated with health care is a good step, it doesn't address a huge reason that some people lack insurance. Many can't get insurance because of pre-existing health conditions, and they can't afford the guaranteed coverage that is currently offered.

There are programs for low-income families, healthy people, and children to get insurance. But if an adult has any kind of prior condition, getting affordable individual coverage, or coverage at all, is almost impossible. If insurance companies have a say in how things get overhauled, is that going to change? Doubt it.

And what about when COBRA isn't available to former employees who have lost their health coverage when their company went under? They're trying to stay above the poverty line with a health condition.

Insurance companies are concerned about what government will do, as the number of uninsured grows. They are more concerned with profits than health, so we need to be wary of any plans they like.

The voices of the 50 million and rising uninsured Americans need to be heard. They need to be helped. The way to help is to change the insurance companies, instead of letting them call the shots.

K. Smith

West Chester