YOUR EDITORIAL "Keep health reform moving" (June 19) justly praises Massachusetts for its landmark healthcare initiative. More than 93 percent of the working population in Massachusetts has health insurance. This is laudable. But another statistic tells a different side of healthcare access. Almost half of Massachusetts workers don't have a single paid sick day. If they miss work to see a doctor, they lose a day's pay and may lose their job. What good is insurance coverage if you can't afford to take time to visit the doctor?
Senate Bill 1073 would guarantee paid sick days to all Massachusetts workers to be used for illness, doctor visits, or care for a child, spouse, or parent. When people go to work sick, they often pass the disease to co-workers. Paid sick days reduce the spread of disease, and decrease outbreaks among vulnerable groups such as nursing home residents and children. They could also lower healthcare costs by speeding recovery.
Paid sick days are the missing piece of healthcare reform. Without them, many of the same workers we congratulate ourselves on covering can't access the healthcare they need.
PATRICIA JEHLEN, State senator, Somerville
