Looks forward to Affordable Care Act

To the editor:

Teddy Roosevelt was the first president to call for universal health care when he ran for a third term in 1912.

More than 100 years later, we are just months away from finally having it in the form of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Is it a perfect solution? No, probably not, but then again, what is? The important thing is it will eliminate the need for the emergency room to be the only point of care for many people.

The ACA will reduce the cost of health insurance for everyone, and in some states it has already begun to do so. Statistics show that tens of millions do not buy insurance, even when they can afford it. This has added to the costs of health insurance for all and can ruin the individual financially with a large part of their medical costs possibly “written off” and covered by others who have the same insurance carrier.

Instead, Obamacare encourages responsibility for oneself and makes sure nobody gets anything for free. That sounds pretty conservative to me.

Chaz Rivas

Wasilla High School student