Health care reform needed now

To the editor:

Please join me in phoning Sen. Mark Begich to encourage him to support and vote for the health care reform bill that is currently before Congress. This bill is a first step in reforming our present non-health care system.

With this health care reform, overall monies that have been historically wasted will be redirected to the economy. This reform bill will include all Americans who are currently insured as well as those with pre-existing conditions and those who have not been insured in the pats.

All Americans will have to pay into a pool so everyone can enjoy the comfort of good health. After all, the original idea of insurance coverage is that the more people who are covered, the cheaper per person.

The Senate has already passed a thoughtfully crafted health care bill, as has the House of Representatives. The work of the Senate and House supports the third and last step of passing the bill now. We do not need to scrap this bill and start over. The thinking and planning has been going on for well over 10 years. Now is the time to fix a system that is broken.

Please join me in phoning Sen. Begich to let him know we support his efforts to help all Americans and Alaskans.

Marilyn Russell,

president of League of Women Voters of Alaska