The following letter to the editor appeared in the January 18 edition of The Staunton News Leader:

Dear Rep. Goodlatte: 

Last week, my husband, who has provided for our family for the last 10 years, became unemployed.

My first concern (besides how to keep the lights on) was what we would for health insurance coverage. After staying home with our two young children for the last seven years, I had just resumed my career in September. I was hired as a part-time, hourly employee with no benefits. Our family was insured through my husband’s work, and my job brings in too much for us to qualify for Medicaid or CHIP.

We have no other way to get insurance.

Yesterday, we received a COBRA statement in the mail, indicating that to continue coverage would cost $1300 per month.

That’s as much as our mortgage payment.

Soon after that, I went to http://www.healthcare.gov and visited the Healthcare Marketplace. I spent a few hours doing research and making telephone calls. As a result, effective February 1st, we’ll have a better health and dental coverage plan than we had through my husband’s employer.

All our long-time care providers remain “in-network” and it will cost one-third of the COBRA Price ($485).

Mr. Goodlatte, if you don’t believe my family should have access to affordable health insurance, what would you suggest we, and millions of families like us, do?

Sir, my family needs affordable health insurance. Please do not vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act, without a suitable replacement. That vote does not represent the needs of your constituents. It’s not good for me, my family, nor many of us who live in the beautiful western region of Virginia.

MARGARET CAISTER

Staunton