To the editor:
Our Federal Government remains closed, after 40 times the Republicans have attempted to repeal the “Affordable Care Act” without success. They say the American people do not want it — as evident last week when phone and computer lines were overloaded with attempts by thousands trying to buy into the larger group health plans. I know of people paying large monthly premiums ranging from $1,500 to $2,300 for health insurance. The high premiums are due to being independently employed. Some may pay slightly lower premiums, with deductibles so high they really only have insurance to cover a catastrophe.
Some of those against the “Affordable Care Act,” many of whom are retired or work minimally pay less than $400 a month for a supplemental (if they have one) to their Medicare, Maine Care, or veterans care. All government supported health care programs.
Others against it have jobs with employers supplementing their insurance costs. Is it wrong for those working hard and paying taxes to have access to affordable insurance? To put it off for a year would only cost in the thousands for those trying to do the right thing.
Others complain that it should be open to the free market. To buy a TV or an automobile is subject to the free market, health care is not. If you go to the hospital emergency room, you can not be turned away based on your ability to pay. If you go to the Walmart, you only get what you have the ability to pay for.
Our defense budget is over $800 billion a year, 50 percent of which is non-essential according to the numbers shown last week with the government shut down. Is the defense budget spent to supplement business interest in a free market or is it to protect lifestyles and infrastructure of those we care so much more about in foreign lands than we care for our own?
Jim Flavin
New Sweden
