While I was employed in private industry, my family and I were covered by insurance through my job. When I lost that job, the least expensive health insurance package we could find for individuals was a high-deductible plan.

But several months later, when the Dirigo plan became a reality, my husband started looking into insurance options for small businesses. There were two reasons we chose the Dirigo plan.

First, it provided my family with coverage similar to that provided through my former employer at comparable prices.

Second, it allowed my husband to provide insurance for his employees, none of whom could afford insurance as individuals.

The discount Dirigo offers on the employee portion of the bill was critical for them.

A letter to the editor in the Sun Journal (Jan. 20) suggested that the governor and legislators shouldn’t be promoting Dirigo if they weren’t signing up themselves. Dirigo is not meant to be a single-payer plan for the entire state. The governor, legislators and others are employed by organizations that have access to group policies negotiated in competitive bidding. Many Maine residents don’t have access to such policies. Dirigo does that negotiating for us, allowing us to provide our families protection from financial disaster. Without Dirigo, many will not have insurance at all. Some may skimp on medical care, others may not pay their bills. This puts hospitals and doctors in a bind, while leaving patients in a hole they may never be able to get out of.

Marian Dalton, Brunswick