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Healthcare vote contradicts platform

This is a letter to our Congressman Joe Donnelly.

I now realize what your statement on www.donnellyforuscongress. com means. “Independent voice” when read by the people who voted for you probably meant that you were going to stand up for them and vote for what they believe in. With your vote for Obamacare, it is now clear that “Independent voice” means a voice that is clearly independent of the people that put you in your position as steward for our piece of this nation. I’m sure Nancy (Pelosi) is very pleased with your support and your funding will be secured for 2010, but your votes are not. We have trusted you with our checkbook and you continue to plunder the livelihood of our future generations for short-sighted decisions you make today.

This will not continue; elections are right around the corner.

Brett Coughlin

Bringhurst

No more status quo

I feel Lon Bohnstedt’s letter of Nov. 4 needs a couple of corrections. He cites Ron Scowden’s letter stating a $700 ambulance claim for one hour and 15 miles.

First of all, the ambulance company sets the price of the ride, not the reimburser, whether that reimburser is a private insurance company or Medicare/Medicaid. Mr. Scowden doesn’t even mention if this was a Medicare Claim. So there was no Government Fiat for the price he was billed.

As for me, I don’t live on another planet and I completely support health care reform.

And I will tell you what scares the bejeebers (the letter writer’s word, not mine) out of me:

• My insurance premiums continuing to increase 10- 20% every year.

• My premiums increasing just because I fall into a higher age bracket.

• I currently have a $3,000 deductible and pay $250 per month for insurance coverage through my employer who pays the other $250 each month. This is a single coverage plan. If I would lose my job, my insurance is not portable, my premium for COBRA coverage would double my present monthly premium out-of-pocket, and should I exhaust the COBRA benefit after 18 months, would not be able to pick up coverage from another carrier because of pre-existing conditions.

Health care reform will correct portability and pre-existing conditions as well as keep the insurance companies honest and competitive. Comparing apples to apples, the built in profit margin for insurance companies of up to 25% would automatically disappear under a government option. Remember, the key word here is “option.” No one is forcing you to take the government plan. If you are happy with your present carrier, no problem.

Michael Knight Boca Raton, Fla. (former Flora resident)