Letters: No one said affordable healthcare would be free
Re “For working poor, new health premiums can be a burden,” April 14
The headline on this article is very misleading. The impression given is that Obamacare places an undue burden on low-income citizens.
This story is about someone — 63-year-old Barbara Garnaus — who went for years without any insurance, relying on good health and free clinics. Now she has cancer and has bought insurance under Obamacare.
Before healthcare reform, she probably would not have been able to obtain insurance at all after the cancer was diagnosed.
So yes, her $13.50 monthly premium is more than she paid when she had no insurance and was in good health, but it’s a lot less than it would cost for the same healthcare without insurance, which is where she would have been without Obamacare.
Sure, paying premiums costs more than not paying them, but healthcare with insurance costs a lot less than healthcare without insurance.
Perry Valantine
Costa Mesa
A $13.50 monthly payment for health insurance is amazingly low. The Times should applaud the program that allows a person who could never afford healthcare to receive medical treatment for cancer.
The cost of healthcare under the Affordable Care Act isn’t the source of Garnaus’ troubles. Rather, she is struggling to pay for healthcare because of her extremely low salary.
Until hardworking Americans like Garnaus receive wages that allow them to pay for a place to live, housing, transportation and, yes, healthcare, they will struggle as she does.
But don’t blame the Affordable Care Act — it has brought affordable healthcare to millions of previously uninsured Americans.
Jo Perry
Studio City
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