To the editor:

Entitlements are a cruel hoax promoted by sinister politicians who have made a mockery of the notion that government should be “for the people.” Somebody must pay for the “free lunch.”

Insurance premiums are based on age and deductibles: the higher the deductible, the lower the premium by actuarial statistics. In other words, raising the deductible to equal the cost of the policy would reduce the cost of the policy dramatically. For example, a $7,000 policy with a $1,000 deductible converted to a $7,000 deductible would cost about $2,000. In short, choosing to pay the doctor rather than the insurance company results in substantial insurance savings.

Choosing to pay neither the doctor nor the insurance company requires a healthy lifestyle. Diabetes, lung cancer and heart disease can be prevented with changes in lifestyle. Such changes would reduce the demand for health care and subsequently the cost of health care.

No one should be exposed to the financial burden inherent with genetic predispositions or catastrophic health events. Removing the federal government from the administration of health care and insurance companies from the billing of health care should more than pay the unanticipated costs arising from converting insurance premiums to deductibles.

Masked in compassion for the uninsured, Obamacare is the cruelest hoax of all. For all professional politicians depending upon the stupidity of the American public, Obamacare will become the sweetest political payoff since Medicaid.

Joe Exum

Snow Hill

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