Regarding Harry Riegle’s letter encouraging the passage of ColoradoCare (Herald, Aug. 24), this may be the same gentleman who could not answer my spouse’s questions at the group’s booth at the La Plata County Fair. Our question is: What happens to people who receive their insurance benefits through retirement benefits that we worked years to earn, and have already paid for through many years of contributions to the retirement plan? Will we still be allowed to use our hard-earned private insurance benefits? We are also not employed by a company or business, but rather self-employed.

As I understand, this proposal would raise our income taxes, as retirees and self-employed, to almost 15 percent and perhaps not even allow us to access already earned benefits which includes health insurance. As retirees, we already face proposed property tax increases, sales tax increases, etc. and should not be expected to pay 15 percent in income taxes plus all the other local tax increases on the ballot.

I do support a lower-cost or perhaps even a single-payer plan, but this plan seems to be too costly, has too many unanswered questions and importantly raises questions as to women’s continued access to needed health care.

Leah Karotkin

Durango