David Whiteman

Centre Hall

President Trump says he launched a war to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons and attacking the United States. Many experts–including our own intelligence analysts — question whether that threat was ever imminent.

The threat to Americans’ health, however, is real.

Health care is increasingly hard to afford, driven in part by last year’s budget bill and the expiration of Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies for people who buy their own insurance.

Republicans argued that adequately funding health care was not worth increasing the budget deficit. War apparently is — with a much higher price tag.

Consider the numbers:

— The war: $1 billion a day — $30 billion a month

— ACA subsidies (nonpartisan estimates): $30 billion a year

In other words, one month of war spending could have funded a full year of affordable health care for millions of Americans.

The loss of ACA subsidies is already taking a toll. Premiums have surged, and many families are being priced out. Nationally, about 1 in 10 have dropped coverage. In Pennsylvania, it’s closer to 1 in 5 — more than 100,000 people so far.

That number will grow as families are forced to choose between insurance and basic necessities.

Billions to guard against a distant, uncertain threat — or the modest investment needed to keep Americans — including people in your own family — healthy today.

Which one actually saves more lives?