Gov. Rendell is pushing a plan called “CAP” (Cover All Pennsylvanians) to provide access to affordable, quality health care for those who don't have it. I am one of those people.

I do not have any medical or prescription coverage.

My husband turned 65 in June and he was dropped from his medical coverage plan, through which I was also covered. One day, we had medical coverage; the next day we didn't.

I was offered COBRA for over $600 a month, which we considered an exorbitant amount. (It turned out to be much more, what with the additional costs under Medicare.).

So, without prescription coverage, we now pay $350 a month for my seizure control medication and two treatment medications of about $40 each for a medical/dental condition (which could turn into a cancer at any time).

Neither of these drugs have generic equivalents. My thyroid medication is a fair $11, generic.

Although I have been seizure free for more than 10 years, and regardless that my seizures are not even life threatening, no insurance has been willing to cover me.

During 2007, we spent $12,222 for medical, prescriptions, long-term care coverage, glasses and dental, all things necessary for a decent life; especially after the age of 60.

Add to that the expenses for my husband's Medicare coverage (since June):

• Part B $92/month
  
  
• Humana Advantage Plan $136/month
  
  
• Humana Prescription Plan $22.90/month (not a bargain, when we pay $30 for each prescription; he has 2 = $60/month).

This is a total of $1,865.40.

So, in 2007, we paid a grand total of $14,087 of health care expenses and that was without health insurance for me!

And, after all of this, should I end up in a hospital for any reason, we would be forced to dip into our retirement funds even further. In 2008, our expenses will start at almost $9,000 and work their way upward.

Keep in mind that these charges do not include a year's basics for maintaining a healthy body, such as routine tests like cholesterol, bone density, and mammogram and tests regards to my seizure medication for me.

They do not include dental, eye glasses, exercise, or any other forms of upkeep for bodies over 60 for either of us. We don't want much. We just want what's fair. But, we are the lucky ones; we both have pensions, I have a 401k. And most of all, we are basically healthy. But what happens "tomorrow' when either of us might get a serious illness, or be in an accident requiring long-term recovery? I don't know.

As you read this, you might think this issue doesn't affect you because you have health insurance. But it could. What happens if your company downsizes and you lose your job? What happens if you get sick and can't work and no longer have health insurance through your employer? What happens if you get divorced and you had insurance coverage through your spouse? What happens if you buy your own insurance, but the latest cost increase makes it unaffordable for your limited budget?

There are people who are your friends, your neighbors, who don't have insurance and live in fear of illness. They are people like me. In our land of plenty, this is a fear that we can remove. We have the resources to make sure that everyone has access to health care.

I ask you to reach out to your Pennsylvania legislators and urge them to do the right thing and join with the governor in passing CAP now.

Barbara Stakes, Oakford, is a wife and mother of two sons, has a 40-year career as an administrative/information research assistant, Ecogen, Inc.