To the editor:

Thanks to Congressman Derek Kilmer for voting no on the recent repeal of the Affordable Care Act. (“Kilmer explains his ‘no’ vote on repeal of Affordable Care Act” in the Bainbridge Island Review, May 5).

His reasoning is sound: Millions would lose their health insurance, it would cost more, and people with pre-existing conditions could be charged such higher premiums that they couldn’t afford insurance.

CBS News recently reported that before the Affordable Care Act “45,000 people die annually from lack of health insurance.” (A 2009 study published by the American Journal of Public Health.)

So, affordable health insurance is definitely a matter of life and death.

Fortunately, Rep. Kilmer is willing to work across the aisle to create affordable health care for all, as promised by the president.

Meantime, the health care battle turns to the Senate. We can speak up to our senators to be sure they know what we want.

Calls, letters, and visits from constituents have been shown to be the number-one influence on our elected representatives decisions, according to the Congressional Management Foundation.

So let’s speak up and help create affordable health care for all Americans.

WILLIE DICKERSON

Snohomish