Subsidies, people couldn’t afford the premiums

Without ACA

I was unable to finish the column by Jay Ambrose titled “U.S. in Recovery: Trump Is Helping Us Heal From Obama” (Oct. 30 Perspectives). He immediately begins by attacking the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). What he fails to realize is that without the subsidies provided by the law, my family would no longer be able to afford insurance.

Both my wife and I are selfemployed and therefore do not have the option of getting group coverage from an employer. We currently have a “Silver” plan that has a high deductible. Because of the subsidy we get, the insurance costs us a bit under $7,000 per year. Without the subsidy, it would be over $16,000, and the letter I just received from my insurer informs me that the premium for next year (thanks in part to the uncertainty caused by Donald Trump) will be $32,400. According to a study I read recently, it’s estimated that the average family spends about 17 percent of its income on health insurance. Using this as a guide, I estimate I would need to be earning more than $185,000 a year to afford that premium. Needless to say, my income is nowhere near that.

Without ever having met Mr. Ambrose, I can safely make two observations about his life: 1) He has insurance provided by his employer and, 2) he has probably taken advantage of the mortgage interest deduction on his income taxes. I bring this up because I consider the “Obamacare” subsidy in much the same way as others consider the interest deduction on their “McMansions.”

I guess I should be thankful to Mr. Trump and the rest of the Republican Party for their efforts to protect my freedom to choose the right to die by the side of the road because of insurance I can’t afford. Or maybe Mr. Ambrose would like to help me out financially? ROB POWER

Plum