Dear Editor,

Thank you Kim Van Meter for articulating how so many of us feel about the current health care system. Every year the private insurance companies shift more of the financial burden for care to the patient by increasing deductibles and co-pays while decreasing service. Every year more people drop their health insurance because they can no longer afford it.

It’s time for our elected officials to leave partisan politics behind and do what is best for the people. An affordable government run public option would provide competition for private insurance companies forcing them to bring their prices and services back to reality benefiting not only those that now can’t afford insurance but those who choose to stay with their private plans.

John Brennan