To the editor:

The health care debate … Wednesday night, I distinctly heard President Obama say that people who have medical insurance will see no change in their coverage, that Medicare will not see cuts, that he will not sign a plan that increases the deficit and that individuals and small businesses who can’t afford existing plans will have an opportunity to buy insurance from a premium-funded public option. I then listened to the Republican response from Rep. Charles Boustany of Louisiana who said that the president’s plan will balloon the deficit, government will take over health care, and … I turned off the TV.

I offer a challenge to all politicians and, in fact, to anyone in the conservative camp with health insurance: Pretend you have no coverage for the duration of this debate. Pull out the checkbook or credit card at the doctor’s office and at the pharmacy when you pick up the antibiotics or cholesterol drug. Become familiar with a new decision-making process as you determine if you or your child are sick enough to see the doctor or visit the ER, then if you can pay for the labs or that MRI or mammogram. If it goes on long enough, you can check out the waiting room at Health Care Access or see how broke you need to be for Medicaid.

Keep in mind that you won’t get the full experience since you’re pretending and if it turns into a nightmare you can just wake up.