LETTER: Health care insurance impacts overall health

Posted

The Affordable Care Act [ACA] is not the long-term solution to the healthcare crisis in this country. It never had the potential for controlling cost or making healthcare affordable for everyone. It does, however, prove that healthcare insurance saves lives.

The ACA covered an additional 23 million people in this country through the expansion of Medicaid.

Studies now show that for every 300-800 people covered with insurance, one life per year is saved. That means that 875-2,300 additional people could die every year in Washington state if the ACA is repealed (about 700,000 people would lose Medicaid).

In Jefferson County, about 3,000 would lose coverage, and every year, 3-10 more of our family, friends and neighbors would die, simply because we did not provide affordable healthcare.

In his New England Journal [of Medicine] article, “Being Mortal” author Atul Gawande lists other benefits of healthcare coverage, ranging from reduced incidence of depression to better overall health.

Our public hospital district depends heavily on revenue generated by service to our Medicaid-covered residents. Less coverage would threaten our ability to provide the primary care, 24-7 emergency room access, specialty care, local inpatient beds and many other valuable services right here in our community.

Meanwhile, the Better Care Reconciliation Act being considered by Republicans would also strip money from the Prevention and Public Health Fund, which invests $1 billion each year in healthcare and prevention programs, including local health department efforts to promote healthy eating and active living.

I think it’s time for a single-payer healthcare system that assures healthcare and prevention services for everyone.

KEES KOLFF

Port Townsend

(Editor’s note: Retired physician Kees Kolff is on the Board of Commissioners for the Jefferson County Public Hospital District, but is writing as an individual, not as a commissioner.)