For bipartisan efforts

As a cancer survivor, I have been exhausted by the added stress around the uncertain future of the current health-care law and the impact that uncertainty has on the insurance markets. Recent bills in the Senate would have been disastrous for families like mine. I can’t begin to express how relieved I was when I read that Congress was pushing repeal-and-replace attempts aside and instead starting to focus on bipartisan efforts to stabilize the health-care market.

But now Sens. Lindsey Graham and Bill Cassidy are trying to disrupt regular order with a new attempt to repeal and replace current law. Their new proposal would roll back the essential health benefits that guarantee access to the lifesaving care I need, eliminate access to subsidies to help Americans afford health care in the individual marketplace, and gut the Medicaid program.

Senator Cotton, I urge you to oppose this harmful bill and instead focus your attention on the bipartisan process already underway. This debate has certainly been a roller-coaster ride for insurance markets, but also for me and my family. For the sake of Arkansans who rely on affordable and adequate access to health coverage, please ignore this latest distraction and remain focused on bipartisan, measured efforts.

KAREN YOUNG

Sherwood