To the Editor:

Forty years ago this month I started Medical school. Since that time there has been phenomenal changes in medical technology and the delivery of healthcare, saving and prolonging countless lives. The greatest change by far in those years was the passage of the “Affordable Care Act” the ACA or Obamacare. No single piece of legislation will save more lives, and relieve more suffering than the ACA. It will help move our delivery of healthcare into the 21st century along with all the other developed and many developing countries. The final outcome, to deliver basic health services to all of us.

Since Teddy Roosevelt many of our presidents have tried to pass legislation to broaden accessibility to affordable care for all. Obama and our Democratic Congress members succeeded. It is not a perfect legislation, having been distorted by lobbyists and special interest groups. It does however lay the groundwork for revolutionizing our delivery system and decreasing costs to all of us. Medicare and Social Security were both demonized on their passage, the end of the world as we knew it was about to happen. What retiree or disabled person will give up their social security check or Medicare coverage? Will any generation willingly give up their future opportunity for social security or Medicare? The ACA will follow in the footsteps of all past great social legislation and go down as a historic act that we will wonder how we ever did without.

So as we go to the polls in November, remember that Jeanne Shaheen, Carol Shea-Porter and Ann Kuster have fought and voted for the ACA and I am proud to say they are our congressional representatives. Governor Hassan has strived to implement the act to the advantage our state’s residents. You too should be proud of them and cast your ballot to reelect them to continue to serve us. What does the other side really offer us? I have heard no viable option. Please get out and vote.

Wayne L. Goldner MD

Bedford