Help get the word out: Act quickly to update your health coverage

Thank you very much for your coverage of the enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act. There has been so much misinformation and such a lack of transparency about the realities. There has also been a reduction in the advertising and in the number of navigators available to help people figure out their options. And, of course, a shorter time to make decisions.

I hope that people who read the Bradenton Herald will help get the word out to their friends and family that they need to act quickly to review their health coverage and make any changes they want to for the upcoming benefit year. While premiums are going up, the subsidies available are going up as well. But it will take more work for individuals to figure out what is best for them and their family.

The ACA is not a perfect law, and the current attempts by this administration to dismantle it are not making it any better. Unfortunately, it was the best that could be worked out at the time and it remains the best option for many people. Obviously, healthcare in this country is a critical issue and one that needs to be addressed. The only way to do that is for both sides to come together and listen to experts and citizens to create something that covers everyone and reduces costs for the country.

I, and many other people, believe that moving to single payor, universal healthcare would solve most of the issues with our current collection of healthcare systems. We need to keep the pressure on our elected representatives to stop their bickering and their attempts to sabotage the current, imperfect, system. They need to work on behalf of ALL Americans to provide a truly universal, comprehensive healthcare program.

This story was originally published November 11, 2017 at 1:29 PM with the headline "Help get the word out: Act quickly to update your health coverage."