Dear Editor, Those of us who have long pushed for universal, single-payer health care for every Vermonter are well aware that health insurance costs for education staff — including teachers, maintenance workers and other school employees — represent the fastest-growing expense in educati on funding. There is a simple solution. If health insurance funding were removed from education budgets and instead covered through a statewide universal health care system run by the state, or by a single state-overseen entity, for all Vermonters — not just education employees — the state could address education funding without making huge district changes. READ MORE What is needed is a serious, rigorous financial analysis to pair such a system with tax reforms that more equitably distribute health care costs. Many would prefer to wait for the federal government to enact universal health care. At this point, however, that could mean waiting indefinitely. Under the current administration, such a plan appears unlikely. Health care, however, is neither a conservative nor a liberal issue. All Vermonters are subject to a system dominated by private insurance companies that generate billions in annual profits and are publicly traded on U.S. stock exchanges. Why do health care costs vary so dramatically from one hospital to another? The University of Vermont Medical Center and its affiliates are generally more expensive than many rural hospitals across the state — facilities may be at risk of closure. Vermont should take a much larger role in health care funding and allow education departments to set priorities without bearing the burden of employee health insurance costs. Other states, including Oregon, Maine, Washington and California, are actively exploring universal health care models. This isn’t a new idea. Vermonters have been working on it for years, and the Legislature keeps ignoring it. Instead of continuing to fight over education districts, we should focus on a shared goal. Most Vermonters believe health care is a right, not a privilege. So why should all Vermonters pay the cost of health insurance for education employees when many struggle to afford coverage for themselves? Mary Alice Bisbee, Rochester, Vt.   Read the story on VTDigger here: Health care costs are breaking Vermont schools. ...read more read less