Health care — what a mess, and why ? Here is an example. Forty years ago, almost every decent company offered health insurance to lure and keep good employees. Example: Marden’s used to offer a great insurance plan with a very small deductible and a great employer contribution. Today my wife is paying 20 percent of her weekly income for our coverage and our deductible is $6,000. Marden’s has done everything it can do in these tough times to help employees with health insurance but it is a victim of the health care system, same as us.

Last month, I had a heart stress test at CMMC; 11 minutes on a treadmill cost $440. Insurance paid all but $187.

My doctor called, said I needed a second test, the cost of which won’t be covered. If they didn’t get it right the first time, should I pay again?

If the federal government starts monitoring hospital charges, doctor fees, testing costs, medical lawsuits and insurance gouging, we won’t need a national health care plan, just better control over what we already have. But like the big greedy investment firms and bankers, I guess government officials will have to step in to keep them honest, thus, health care reform. It will have to happen.

Al Pelletier, Norway