Being a business

Dear Laurie Roberts, I can only guess what liberal arts school you must have attended. Your article on UnitedHealthcare could not have been more wrong.

Start with the purpose of a business — providing a product or service, for a fee. To stay in business, there must be a profit, or the business will not continue to exist.

The fact that UnitedHealthcare makes a profit, should not be condemned. They provide a service, and they employ many individuals. They also supply a return (reward) to their investors.

Their service is a health-care policy — a contract. The contract does not cover “unproven procedures.”

If the Summerville Family wanted coverage for “unproven procedures,” or procedures that have not “been shown to be medically effective,” they should have purchased such a contract. They did not.

Yet you conclude United should stop operating as a business, become a social program and offer benefits not covered under the contract. Where, exactly, would this expansion of the contract end? The fact that United Healthcare makes a profit and their CEO get rewarded for the company being successful, is not a reason to extend benefits outside the contract.

UnitedHealthcare is not saying Sarah cannot have the “unproven procedure.” The treatment was not denied by United. All they are saying is the contract does not cover payment for such treatment.

One doctor’s opinion does not make this a “proven, medically effective procedure.” — Scottsdale

Especially persuasive is your naming of UnitedHealth Group CEO Stephen Hemsley and his outrageous salary and perks. The exposure of the company’s $2 million ad on the Oscars show also really hit home to help make your case.

In these times, hard-hitting journalism like this backed by the truth is the best weapon we have against this kind of corporate corruption.

By shining a bright light on this national shame, you and The Republic will bring change. We pray every day for Sarah to get her life back, and that her suffering and that of thousands of others will finally end.

We know that your inspired work, backed by other dedicated journalists is hastening that day.

Sincerely, — Richardson, Texas Golfing? No problem. People seem to be upset how much President Donald Trump goes golfing. We should all be grateful that his time spent golfing is the only time we are out of danger from his decisions.

— Mesa

I’m 72, and for most of my life I have felt that our FBI was a credible, rock-solid investigatory part of our national defense.

Regretfully, today that confidence has been a bit shaken. Our FBI was involved in finding Tom Brady’s Super Bowl jersey, but seems stifled about finding leaks that may have occurred in its own department?

Doesn’t the “leak” have considerably more significance, and warrant more attention, than Brady’s jersey?

— Phoenix

The article on EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt claiming to help the environment should have waited for April 1.

That said, I look forward to reading more articles on ISIS’ claims that it promotes religious tolerance and freedom; or the KKK’s claims it is a “Christian” organization promoting racial tolerance and multiculturalism.

— Phoenix