Wellmark Blue Cross removed all doubt recently of the need for major health insurance reform. I opened my mail and my monthly premium went up about 25 percent on my bare-bones, high-deductible family health plan. Then, several friends and clients gave me reason to count myself lucky. Many had huge increases. So far, the highest increase was 300 percent.

Families paying over $1,200 a month for very basic high deductible insurance is now common.

Insurance companies are requiring higher co-pays and deductibles before they even consider paying part of the medical bills. These costs are crippling nearly every aspect of our economy.

I am a believer in our American system of capitalism. The bedrock principle of capitalism is consumer choice. But choice assumes a freedom to choose, and those with a pre-existing medical condition have no freedom to choose. Thus, they cannot participate in capitalism. They are stuck in an insurance dictatorship.

Patients with pre-existing conditions cannot leave for a cheaper competitor due what they call a rider. A rider is like a scarlet letter. Once you are sick, you will never get that condition covered again if you leave your plan.

The present insurance company knows the sick patient cannot leave for this reason. They can raise the patient's monthly premium to nearly any level they wish, leaving the patient with no choice. The policyholder must pay captive monopoly rates, drop the insurance entirely and go bankrupt when they get ill. If they go to a competing insurance company, the new company will rider the patient anyway.

I have been involved with health reform for 25 years. Recently, I keep hearing opponents of reform use phases like, "We are loosing our freedom and liberty." Anyone truly interested in liberty and freedom would see the way to restore it is to give the patient choice. Ask yourself who is really standing in the way of your freedom and who is trying to return that freedom or choice to you -- the patient.

The recent reform effort is not perfect and in time will need to be improved upon. However, it has the endorsement of doctors, nurses and consumer groups that include the AMA and the AARP. These groups serve the public interest and they endorse this reform effort.

It's time to think for yourself. Ask experts in the medical fields their insights on reform. If you don't wish to do that, just open your mail. There is a letter waiting for you. What will your premium increase be?

During the Cuban Missile Crisis, one of President Kennedy's generals stated, "Mr. President, you have yourself in heck of a mess." To this, President Kennedy replied, "Perhaps you haven't noticed general, but you are in it with me."

For the doubters out there, you are in this with me. If you want your freedom back, get your choices back. To do this, support the efforts that return your health care choice to you and oppose those interested in maintaining the status quo.

ERIC HANKS

Burlington