Dear Editor:

I would like to thank everyone who signed the Universal Healthcare petition, which was available at most Lincoln County primary election polling locations. This effort was organized by Lincoln County Indivisible, and we collected 3,380 signatures.

The petition directs the joint standing committee of the Maine legislature overseeing health care and insurance to develop a bill establishing a system of universal coverage in Maine. The bill would be reported to the full Legislature for implementation by 2028 and appear as a referendum question on the November 2028 ballot.

The proposal would not affect current Medicare or Medicaid benefits. Many Maine residents earn just above the income threshold for subsidized health insurance yet still find coverage unaffordable. Too many Lincoln County residents, and others across the state, go without health insurance as a result. For some, the resulting medical debt leads to bankruptcy. In fact, medical bills remain a leading cause of bankruptcy.

For more information, visit Healthcare for All Maine at healthcareforallmaine.org. (http://healthcareforallmaine.org./)

Marty Fox

Wiscasset