There are 46 million Americans without health insurance, and another 25 million who are under-insured. It seems that there is no question about whether our healthcare system is broken, and not serving our country. That being said, we are still spending a significant amount more per person on healthcare expenses to obtain a low level of care. Do I hold the answer to our healthcare problem in the palm of my hand? No, but no one knows the right answer to solving our healthcare dysfunction.

However, I do intend to stand against the current system in the call for healthcare reform – asking for lower premiums, increased availability for everyone, encouraging Americans to take preventative action for illness, and ensuring patient safety and health as a result of the treatments they receive. Are these actions going to be easy? Are they going to be free? No, but isn’t raising the standard of care that could be achieved at a lower cost and higher availability, worth the struggle? Perhaps reaching these goals will mean changing the way that Americans think about healthcare on a fundamental level.

Whatever the solution may be, it needs to be sustainable for our future generations, so as we take one step forward we do not take three steps back.

Anna Jensen, Kirkland