Coping With Job Loss

* Your article seemed to think that job losses this time around do not have the same significantly damaging impact as they had a decade ago (“Company Layoffs Taking a Less Damaging Toll,” Feb. 3). When the firm my husband was employed by ceased operations, our health-care insurance went out the door. The premium for two adults would have been over $700 per month. I would imagine that few families would be able to cope with premiums this high or higher. What happens to families when the children or parents have medical conditions and rely on insurance coverage? It’s time to get affordable medical policies so that patients do not have to sacrifice treatment and medications when a job loss or financial difficulty occurs.

MARGARET LUCKETT

Long Beach