I am replying to some recent criticism of the Dirigo Choice health program.

The so-called underinsured, those who pay a high deductible are under-insured. A person who selects a policy, other than Dirigo Choice, that has a $5,000 deductible will have to pay up to $8,600 each year and those that choose a $2,500 deductible, a lesser amount. This significant expense is before the policy pays any medical bills. The Dirigo Choice program could cost a maximum of $7,796 and for most it would be much less. The sums quoted above apply to an adult age 50 to 61 years.

Low-income Mainers are concerned about day-to-day expenses and struggle to stay solvent. They don’t buy health insurance with heart or kidney transplants in mind, but for much more common medical expenses.

Dirigo Choice has made health care in my family affordable. Preventive care and attention to health problems that may have been put off or avoided until a crisis are now within our reach to be treated.

Yes, we all have to work together to deal with health insurance costs, but we cannot run health care systems with profit as the major goal. This would adversely affect patients, hospitals or the entire health care system.

Dirigo Choice is a good choice.

Edvill J. Howland, Turner