In response to the article “Utah cancels partial Medicaid expansion request after expansion passes,” I believe this is a great thing for Utah.
There are many low-income families who cannot afford health care, and this expansion will provide an estimated 150,000 low-income Utahns with health care coverage. We as a community cannot stand back and allow our low-income individuals to struggle with their health because they simply cannot afford to pay.
I, as a working citizen, am completely OK with a sales tax increase if more people are going to be covered. This is a cause, to me, that should have more priority over other issues we have in Utah. So, I am more than happy to pay a higher sales tax if it means that more Utahns will receive health care coverage.
I have been in a position where I refused to go to the clinic or hospital because I did not have the money at the time and would not have the money in the future. It was hard. If I missed work, I could not afford my obligations, but I couldn’t work because I was too sick. No one should have to deal with that.
Bridgette Stanfield, Salt Lake City
