High school students give thought to health care propositions on the Nov. 5 ballot
As part of a larger mock election unit he’s conducting at Pitman High School in Turlock, teacher Isaac W. Farhadian had his students in AP U.S. government and politics, U.S. government and economics write letters to the editor.
Because of the volume of letters, we are breaking them up by ballot proposition. We are publishing batches of letters, sometimes edited for length, in the weeks leading up to the Nov. 5 election.
The following letters regard Proposition 34, which if passed will require certain health care entities to follow new rules about how they spend revenue they earn from a federal drug discount program, and Proposition 35, which if approved means an existing state tax on health plans that provides funding for certain health programs will become permanent
Proposition 34 protects patients
Dear Editor,
Imagine yourself as a mother living a life of poverty, struggling each day to put food on the table, find a job to provide for your children, or simply find a way to travel around town. Medicare, a federal health insurance program that has a large assortment of services given to citizens to keep them healthy, is just one of many. However, the service is practically reserved for those who can afford it. There are other places that provide those services to those who are rejected healthcare. Yet those Medicare providers abuse the distribution of medicine. Proposition 34 puts forward the idea of protecting patients who fall victim to these programs and find themselves in an unfair stage in life by those abusing the use of the given opportunities. The proposition is advocating for a more just and equitable healthcare system where the advantages of medical advancements are distributed more fairly by endorsing this proposal. By passing it, it can ensure that healthcare providers are held responsible for using their resources in ways that can actually improve patient outcomes and prevent those using it for negative uses and self-gain.
Tusi Elisaia, Turlock
Prop. 35 makes health care services more accessible
Dear Editor,
Are you tired of waiting MONTHS for an urgent appointment? With Proposition 35, you won’t need to wait for months on end for that appointment. Not only will you get into your appointment faster, but also many more people can get the help they need. Proposition 35’s main purpose is to enforce the government’s spending and stop taking funding out of medical facilities. Every 15 years, $30 billion is taken out of hospitals and because of this, many hospitals in California are restricting services, including labor and delivering services. This cause has been placed on hold for far too many years, and without having any increase in price and managing the government’s spending, why not vote yes? I believe that people should vote yes on Prop. 35 since it’s all about managing the government’s spending and making hospitals more accessible to everyone.
Hailey Carmo, Turlock
Vote to improve Medi-Cal services
Dear Editor,
Proposition 35 affects low-income families who would benefit from better healthcare services. It imposes a tax on health insurance companies based on the number of people they cover each month. That money would be used to improve Medi-Cal and extend healthcare services, which is important for Californians who rely on the program for necessities such as reproductive healthcare. Californians need to use direct democracy to their advantage. Voters can decide the outcome of plans concerned with healthcare funding and taxing health insurance companies. Voting yes means expanding the program, making sure it remains accessible to those who need it. The well-being of individuals, irrespective of their financial situation, should never be up for debate.
Manveer Dulay, Turlock
Keep medical services within reach
Dear Editor,
Most people deserve to live a long and healthy life. Proposition 35 can help with this issue by providing further medical care for low-income individuals and families. As a young individual in society who is still finding herself educationally, I fear the struggle that I and other students will have if medical services grow unreachable to us. Our entire country would be better off if our citizens were properly taken care of. And Proposition 35 helps to push our state in that direction. There is nothing to lose, this prop will only continue beneficial care to us. Any taxes that would be placed in accordance with Prop. 35 will not harm us. We have already seen society with this insurance, and it has helped us throughout our worst years. Think of those who rely on medical insurance to keep their families safe. And vote yes on Prop. 35.
Kiarra Cha, Turlock
Help low-income get medical care they need
Dear Editor,
Over recent years, Medi-Cal has continuously failed to offer a stable line of services to over 15 million low-income Californians. It has been reported by many that they’re unable to find clinics or providers who accept Medi-Cal because of the plan’s low reimbursement. Even when patients find a healthcare provider that accepts Medi-Cal, it can take several months to actually be seen. By voting yes to Proposition 35, you would help reduce and mitigate the line of continuous failures by being a part of the permanent funding toward Medi-Cal. This is because the amount of revenue collected from the health plan tax would be used to pay for existing costs in Medi-Cal. With your help, we could boost the plans’ funding for as little as $2 billion to $5 billion, allowing low-income families to receive the proper care they need while also addressing other health care needs. Voting no would essentially mean the funding of Medi-Cal would remain uncertain for years to come. Your vote matters for the betterment of California!
Katie Contreras, Turlock