Choice insinuation nonsense

After reading the Nov. 15 letter by Rob Leach, I felt that a response to the utter nonsense it contained was called for. The “small minority” of uninsured Americans he refers to is really around 40 million or so.

How that is a “small minority” in anybody’s mind is beyond belief. Even more appalling is the outrageous assumption that these people are without health care coverage “by choice.”

Why would anyone choose to be without health care coverage in the first place? Would you willingly “choose” to become gravely ill or suffer a disabling injury but have no coverage due to job loss or other reasons?

Or even worse, you do have coverage but end up bankrupted anyway due to the insurance companies’ high deductibles, premiums, co-pays, lifetime benefit caps and exclusions for pre-existing conditions.

Mr. Leach is strongly implying that those without coverage, and even some with insurance, are somehow at fault for not working hard enough and being responsible, so therefore do not deserve the right to have access to quality, affordable health care.

Health care for all Americans should be a given, not something only available to those wealthy enough to pay for it on their own.

Megan Cottrell

Spokane