Once again the inappropriately named Affordable Care Act is in the headlines. Inappropriately named from the start because it drove up the cost of health care insurance for many while at the same time raising one’s deductible (the portion that you, the patient, must pay).

The headlines in this week’s news were filled with stories that some of the largest health insurance companies in the nation have chosen to discontinue providing insurance through the ACA program because of massive losses in some states. UnitedHealthcare, Humana and Aetna are three of the largest insurers.

Each announced their plans to no longer offer policies in those states where they were losing the most. Those companies have or are pulling out of exchanges in many states. Additionally, 16 of the 23 non-profit, state-chartered co-ops created in some states by Obamacare to sell affordable insurance plans have gone bankrupt.

Let’s hope the next president we elect better understands that we can and must have a health care system that focuses on providing real care that citizens consider a value.

Frank Ruff is in the Virginia Senate. His email address is Sen.Ruff@verizon.net.