Access to health care is a fundamental human right, and we need to make it affordable for all. Far too many people in our country cannot access the health care they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

My wife is a doctor who treated patients at Ben Taub’s Emergency Room early in her career. She saw too many people delaying healthcare and harming their health, and their ability to contribute to their families, work, or communities, because they couldn’t afford to see a doctor.

When health care is delivered through our ER’s it’s typically provided after a health condition has become severe. Consequently, the individuals’ and their families’ quality of life have suffered. Additionally, the cost of the care provided through the ER and after a condition has worsened is typically much more expensive than it would be if treated earlier in a preventive way.

It’s both Common Sense and Common Decency to provide quality, preventive health care to all people so they can lead productive and engaged lives at home, at work, and in the community.

We need to lower health care costs, and improve the quality of treatment. We need to work together to find responsible solutions that allow all Americans and all Texans to have access to quality health care that doesn’t break the bank. We need to stabilize the current health care system, drive down drug costs, and start expanding access to CHIP, Medicare, and Medicaid so that all people have access to the preventive health care they need to lead healthy and productive lives.

Common Sense health care that works for our people includes coverage of preventive care, protections for those with pre-existing conditions, mental health care, lowering the costs of medication, and coverage for those confronting addiction. Importantly, it means coverage for birth control, women’s health issues and ensuring women are in charge of their own reproductive choices.