Health Care Reforms

I am a primary care physician, practicing in L.A. for the past 20 years. One of my patients had a stroke at age 60. It paralyzed his right arm and leg. I had to take care of him without hospitalizing him, since he had no health insurance. He had lost his insurance coverage when his previous employer went bankrupt. He got a new job as an engineer, but he was denied insurance because he had preexisting hypertension and diabetes.

He had another stroke at age 65, shortly after he became eligible for Medicare. This time, he was hospitalized. He was totally paralyzed and died quickly. I firmly believe that his life was shortened by lack of health insurance coverage when he really needed it.

It is a moral crime to exclude people from health insurance coverage for preexisting conditions.

We need universal health insurance coverage. SB 480 brings together all the interested parties and gives them the opportunity to discuss, debate and resolve the issues faced by the state in providing universal health coverage. I ask the governor to sign SB 480.

KENJI IRIE MD

Los Angeles

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Re “Clinton’s Health Called ‘Excellent,’ ” Sept. 26: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our government had the same dedication to giving every American such thorough testing?

LAURA GLENDINNING

Los Angeles

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With the exception of unlimited liability in HMO lawsuits, the procedural HMO reforms signed by the governor (Sept. 28), especially a dedicated new regulatory department, second opinions and independent review of HMO denials, are legitimate reforms.

Is it too much to hope that we might now turn our attention from managed care, which is good insurance, to the plight of the more than 7 million Californians who have no insurance whatsoever?

BEAU CARTER, Exec. Dir.

Integrated Healthcare Assn.

Walnut Creek