Honesty Heals Wounds for Palestinians

As a Palestinian, I applaud the author of the Opinion page article ``US Should Increase Aid to Palestinians,'' Oct. 8, for the valor demonstrated in revealing Israel's exploitation of the Palestinian people and in unmasking the farce behind the financial aid now being offered by the United States and other industrialized nations.

We Palestinians have endured 45 years of suffering and massive abuse by both our brothers and foes. It is time that the world concede the injustice and tragedy inflicted upon our people and embrace new policies that will restore our dignity. Walid el Houri, Gulf Stream, Fla. Who gets to pay for health care?

Thank you for the Opinion page article ``Clinton's Health-Care Plan and the Generation Gap,'' Oct. 8. The issue of community rating is of prime concern for me and my peers. Prior to reading this article, I had yet to notice anyone mentioning the idea that one's insurance premiums should be determined according to the degree to which one uses medical care.

It is commonly known among health-care providers that there are two distinct types of people, those who frequently seek medical assistance and those who do not. It is a grave disservice to those who do not use medical services to be lumped into same average as those who are frequent users.

For example, I am a self-employed woman who has spent less than $2,000 on my health care for the total of my 34 years. Is it a form of freedom to require that I spend more than this each year for a service I will rarely use?

I would like to see consideration given to one's personal health history in projecting future health needs and thereby the cost of insurance. This is, after all, the business of insurance - to determine risk factors into premiums. Marie Shih, Seattle