Highmark CEO Kenneth R. Melani understandably will say whatever is required to protect his franchise -- even to the point of losing track of whose money we are talking about ("Our Region Provides a Blueprint for Insurance Access," Sept. 30 letters).

Highmark does not have any money other than what it extracts from employers and individuals in premiums. Far too much of that goes to executive salaries, sales commissions, lobbying, advertising (I am turning blue watching its "blue hand" commercials), risk underwriting, processing and rejecting claims. Open to further consideration is the huge amount of its capital reserves that far exceed the amount a supposed nonprofit insurer requires. That is our money -- not Highmark's.

If I must choose between a health-care finance system run by the government or one run by insurance executives, I will take a government run single-payer system. At least we can vote those guys out if we do not like the way they are managing things. If the insurance executives stay in control we are at their mercy. Single-payer is the only rational choice.

STEVEN B. LARCHUK
Sewickley

A better measure

Dr. Kenneth R. Melani's letter to the editor concerning health-insurance access ("Our Region Provides a Blueprint for Insurance Access," Sept. 30) implies that the high rate of health-insured people in the Pittsburgh region (in reference to Gary Rotstein's Sept. 22 article, "Metro Area Ranks 2nd in Health Insurance") is a direct result of Highmark's efforts.

While not belittling Highmark's programs, the principal reason that Pittsburgh ranks second among metropolitan areas in percentage of people having health insurance is that the Pittsburgh area ranks second in the percentage of people in the category of "elderly" -- in other words, those who receive Social Security benefits and therefore are enrolled in Medicare. We also probably rank very high in the percentage of persons covered by Medicaid.

A better measure would be the relative percentage of persons under 65 who are covered by private medical insurance. But in the end it doesn't matter; one person without the means to acquire health care is one person too many.

RONALD L. FLUCKER
O'Hara

Loophole lessons

In regard to your editorial, "Option Year: Roosevelt Is Worth Locking Up In a New Contract" (Sept. 19), you mentioned how there is a state law that limits the contract for a Pittsburgh superintendent to six years and how you would be in favor of the board considering a loophole to keep Mr. Roosevelt. Would this be good use of a teachable moment?

How about teachers asking their students to find a local or state law and then looking at all the loopholes they can find to get around that law? Students who are successful at that assignment can grow up to be school board members, lawyers, business leaders, bankers, union leaders, editorial board members, etc.

WILLIAM MESKUNAS
Carrick

Improve home care

Many seniors and people with disabilities need assistance in their everyday lives. Most people who need support would prefer to get it in their own homes and not in nursing homes. Unfortunately, many people who stay in their homes are not receiving the quality care they require.

My bedridden mother received home care for a number of years. While she appreciated staying at home, she had a problem with frequent turnover and inadequate training of aides.

To make sure people like my mother receive reliable and quality care, we need to improve the pay, benefits and training the aides receive.

Establishing a Consumer Workforce Council, as they have in other states, would go far in making these needed changes. In this way we can rest assured knowing seniors and those with disabilities will receive quality care.

MATT WRIGHT
Lawrenceville

Save for college

College affordability is one of my top priorities as Pennsylvania treasurer. Recently, I led a roundtable discussion at the Community College of Beaver County where students discussed the challenges of saving and paying for higher education.

I want to ensure that merit and skill are the only factors that determine whether a child can pursue higher education -- not a family's ability to fund it. There is much work to be done to harness the skyrocketing cost of higher education, and I intend to bring the voices of hard-working Pennsylvania families to the table.

Yet there is something that Pennsylvania families can do now to cut the cost of tuition in half -- save money for tuition instead of paying with loans. I am proud to offer the Guaranteed Savings Plan. I feel so strongly about this college savings vehicle that I have made important changes to preserve and strengthen it.

The GSP is a lower risk way for Pennsylvania families to save for higher education and avoid the financial burden of expensive loans. Unlike other savings options, the GSP helps maximize the return on every dollar invested in a child's education, while providing significant tax advantages. GSP accounts do not affect eligibility for state financial aid.

Also, until Oct. 13, Pennsylvanians have the opportunity to win a $25,000 scholarship to use at any accredited higher education institution in the country. To learn more about the GSP and to enter the college scholarship sweepstakes, go to www.MakeCollegePossible.com or call (800) 440-4000.

ROB McCORD
Harrisburg
Pennsylvania Treasurer

Time lost to tests

President Barack Obama wants to increase the length of the school year ("Obama: More School, Less Play," Sept. 28) and the Pennsylvania Department of Education wants to implement a graduation exam for high school seniors ("State-Mandated Graduation Exams Move Closer to Approval," Sept. 28).

Perhaps an increase in the school year would not be necessary if schools did not have to spend up to four weeks a year preparing for and taking tests mandated by the government.

I retired from teaching after 35 years. The amount of classroom time lost to these tests increased constantly in the last four years of my career. I understand from talking to former colleagues that this time is still increasing.

As far as the graduation exams, might I suggest that all members of the Department of Education and all members of the state Legislature be required to take the same tests? Passing or failing such a test does not show if a student deserves to graduate from high school. What about the dozens of tests each student takes throughout his or hers four years of high school?

DAVID HURWITZ
South Park

Pennsylvania lacks leadership, as evidenced by the budget fiasco

Over the past weeks, Pennsylvanians have been assaulted with numerous declarations from the Legislature and the governor about the progress on the state budget.

And still we wait for the final vote and passage. The phrase that best captures the actions of our governor and state Legislature is: "Shame on you."

Shame on you, for having no sense of urgency to pass a budget.

Shame on you, for a total lack of leadership.

Shame on you, for lacking the courage to make decisions that benefit our commonwealth.

Shame on you, for caring more about self-centered, political gains than about the people, for whom this government is to be of, by and for.

As citizens of this commonwealth, let us not forget the day-care centers that closed; the paychecks that were delayed; and the months spent rallying here and in Harrisburg for our elected officials to do their job and pass a budget.

To quote the Web site of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, "As voters we give them the right and responsibility to act on our behalf, expect them to be knowledgeable of the issues facing our citizens, and to do their best to lead us into the future."

Four months and counting without a budget -- we will not forget, and our remembering will be evidenced in the votes we cast.

EVA BEDNAR
Kennedy
Member, Consumer Health Coalition

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