Providing health care

Editor:

As the dismal economic news continues, families across America are losing their homes, their jobs or their retirement savings.

Many are also losing health coverage. Even before the financial crisis began, the cost of health care was threatening the nation’s economic well-being.

Over the last decade, health insurance premiums have doubled.

The average family policy costs over $1,000 a month.

Making matters worse, states are being forced to consider cutting programs that help struggling families with health care costs.

Such cuts would also be devastating to older Americans who rely on home or community based services to keep them out of nursing homes.

Congress should give cash-strapped states the resources they need to provide health care to struggling families.

The best solution is a temporary increase in federal funding so states can avoid cutting health care for children, families and older Americans who need help the most.

An increase would provide relief for people who need it and according to research, help stimulate the economy.

Let Congress know that Arizonans want to preserve the health care safety net.

Providing health care for children, families and older Americans while creating jobs, is the kind of economic stimulus we need.

David Mitchell, AARP Arizona State Director