Since March 31 I have been writing a blog and must admit that it is fun to express a point of view on community issues and then receive feedback from people you know and from folks you have never met. I thank all of you for reading and responding, either in writing or the other ways you have contacted me.

Today I don’t want to talk about a community issue but rather on a matter that is weighing on my heart. I was notified earlier this week that one of our outstanding HCF board members has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She is very active in the community and this news has been very difficult to accept.

About three months ago my best friend from high school was diagnosed with early stage melanoma. He is going through chemotherapy treatment and even though things are a little rough now, we have much hope for the future.

Thankfully both of these folks are surrounded with loving family and friends. Most of us take so many things for granted. We never know when we may be given “news” that may change our life as we know it today. Our time here on earth is limited. Count yourself lucky to share your life-- both the good and bad times -- with family and other people you love, enjoy and respect.

A new study recently released by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Washington Post shows that employer- sponsored health insurance premiums for family coverage increased 10 times faster than US employees’ median incomes from 2001to 2005. The report also found that the percentage of health insurance premiums covered by employees increased to 24.1% in 2005 from 23.2% in 2001.

What does this mean to us? There are approximately 200,000 people in the Kansas City region that are uninsured. Clearly there is a connection between the rising cost of health care and the increasing number of uninsured. It is obvious that when people cannot afford their health care premiums, the number of uninsured increases. What is also obvious is that as the uninsured population increases, costs continue to rise for those of us who have health insurance and the vicious cycle begins anew, bringing about even higher premiums. A Families USA study revealed that health premiums for families who obtained coverage through an employer cost an extra $922 in 2005 solely due to the expenses of covering the uninsured.

The United States currently spends more money on health care than any country in the world. These trends in higher costs will not be reversed without a significant change in the health care delivery system. I am hopeful that this change will come about soon, but so far all I see is talk and not much action.