Lack of health coverage a national disgrace

Re “Shut Out on Healthcare After Storm,” Oct. 9

First, many citizens with life-threatening illnesses died in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina because of the slow response by our government. Now, the jobless survivors of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, who have been left without healthcare and have life-threatening illnesses, face the same fate. This appalling lack of concern for the most vulnerable citizens in our society will certainly be foremost in my mind during the next presidential and congressional elections.

JO ANN FIELDS

West Hills

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If people didn’t know, they might have guessed that Emanuel Wilson, a victim of cancer and Katrina, was a citizen of some underdeveloped banana republic. But Wilson is a U.S. citizen, just like President Bush and members of Congress. But, unlike them, he’s been forced to join a steadily growing legion of more than 40 million Americans lacking health insurance. Nothing short of single-payer universal coverage, independent of age or employment status, can resolve this national disgrace.

HAROLD N. BASS MD

Northridge