Sense on Cents

I am quite pleased when my blog can serve as a vehicle to spread the voice of others. I commend those who are willing to stand up and speak out when it is all too easy to sit down.

But standing up and speaking out are often borne out of frustration with a government, a regulatory system, or a financial industry that pays little heed to those who get up early each and every day to try to make ends meet.

The other day I inquired, How is Obamacare ‘Treating’ You So Far? Many readers had lots to say in response to that question, but nobody spoke out as forcefully as an individual couple who penned the following letter that ran in a local paper this morning.

The president of the United States of America is either a liar, incompetent or both.

He has been stating for a year that if you like your current health insurance and your current doctors you may keep them.

So it came as a surprise to my wife and I that we just received a letter from our insurer telling us that our current policy cannot be renewed when the contract is over Jan. 1.

I currently pay $21,456 per year for that policy and we have co-pays and deductibles that add up to an additional $15,000 per year. That means we pay $701 per week for health insurance. My wife and I both became ill five years ago and we have since that time spent up to and more than that amount in the last five years. (Before you think I am in the famed 1 percent of earners, think again; lots of retirement money being spent). Although I would not say I am happy with my policy, we are happy with our doctors and did not want to change.

And now the adventure begins. We went online for five days (you know the site doesn’t work) to find out what we could get that would match our current policies. So far we will be spending more and I will have to change the doctor who finally cured my illness because I won’t make my wife change her oncologist, in whom she has tremendous faith and this is the best we can do.

I will admit here and probably lose a lot of respect from friends of mine, but I voted for President Obama. I thought the idea of not having a career politician might be good for America. Sorry, America, I was wrong. Mr. President, could you maybe give up a round of golf or two and read the law that you call your landmark legislation. (This law will at best create anarchy, at worst bankrupt us). You still have a chance to make your presidency historic for more than the color of your skin. We do need health insurance for all Americans. It is insane that it is just happening now. But you must see the problems, admit the problems and fix the problems.

Without going into too much detail I can say to you both I am not the type of person who goes to the government for help. Never did in the past, when in my youth our family qualified for every program the government had for families and we took none of it.

But now, Mr. President and U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, (a customer of ours) I need your help because of what you and your law has done to my wife and me.

Could you please call ConnectiCare for my wife and me and tell them they have made a mistake. Because if they have not made a mistake you are both liars, incompetent and uncaring.

Mr. Himes, if you can’t get ConnectiCare to change their mind, will you hire either my wife or me so that we can get the health care you and your staff have.

I currently work from 4:30 in the morning until approximately 7:30 in the evening Monday through Friday (how do you think I can pay $700 a week for just one of my expenses). Saturdays I work just six hours. I only require about four hours of sleep so see what you can do to get a job for me with your staff during those other hours. I don’t even want you to pay me. Just give me access to the health care all you guys have. As a matter of fact, I will work for you for free and pay my own health care. We are small business owners so there is no job to small or too large that we can’t do.

I will keep this newspaper updated on the status of my insurance.

Don’t write a response, Mr. Himes, you know where I am. Visit your constituent; lunch is on me. Bring a camera crew, make a political statement, but please do something — we need your help.

Joseph R. Claps Sr.

Jenna Maries Catering & Deli

Stamford, Connecticut

Will our local Congressman Jim Himes respond to their overture? I will keep you apprised.

I repeat my question, “How is Obamacare ‘treating’ you so far?”

Larry Doyle

Please pre-order a copy of my book, In Bed with Wall Street: The Conspiracy Crippling Our Global Economy, that will be published by Palgrave Macmillan on January 7, 2014.

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I have no business interest with any entity referenced in this commentary. The opinions expressed are my own. I am a proponent of real transparency within our markets so that investor confidence and investor protection can be achieved.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, October 8th, 2013 at 8:38 AM and is filed under General, Obamacare. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.