Obama’s First Year: Stay Committed to Health Care Reform

On 1/29, PPNEO staff member Bonnie Bolitho’s letter to the editor titled, “Obama’s First Year: Stay Committed to Health Care Reform,” was published in the Cleveland Plain Dealer and on Cleveland.com. It applauded President Obama’s State of the Union address and called for health care reform to include coverage for women’s health.

Editor:

I applaud President Obama's State of the Union address, especially his clear call to not walk away from health care reform.

I remain very concerned about ensuring that all Americans have access to quality, affordable care, and I urge our congressional representatives to get on board and pass health care reform now.

Too many people, especially women, are delaying or skipping preventive health care due to cost. Women now pay up to 50 percent more in premiums, and we pay 68 percent more in out-of-pocket expenses than men. Women need reliable and affordable access to contraception, cervical cancer screening, mammograms and prenatal care.

Let's remedy this situation now and not use abortion policy as an excuse to keep millions of Americans from receiving affordable health care that would do so much to improve their lives.

Bonnie Bolitho, Cleveland Heights