Sen. Cruz,
Wanted to send you this letter to let you know that we support your decision to defund Obamacare. The attached picture is the reason why we are doing this. This picture represents our 2 options as laid out by Humana, our current insurance provider. Humana is giving us Option A, which is an increase in our monthly premiums from ~$475/month to what you see, as well as an increase from our $7500 deductible to $10k. According to Humana, this policy can stay in place until end of 2014, when we’ll be forced to switch over to an ACA approved policy. As you can see from the picture, this year that option would mean a double in monthly premiums. Even though the deductible is reduced from $10k to $7k a simple math shows that the total out of pocket expenses for a family of 4 will go from ~$16,180 to ~$18,928. In addition, if I wanted to keep my current plan intact, I will lose all of the “Essential Health Benefits” like preventive and wellness services, which have been included in previous plans.
My family immigrated to this country in 1986 because my parents believed this was the best country to make our new home. We came here from an eastern European country with a communist government and settled into our new life. The whole family learned English and worked hard, many times working menial jobs including collecting and selling aluminum cans to make ends meet. We didn’t ask for help because we always believed that if we worked hard enough, we’ll achieve the American dream of owning a house and living like you only saw on television in other countries. So far, that ideology has been true. However, with the new healthcare laws in place, and increases in health care coverage, we are being marginalized, regardless how hard we are willing to work. With the increases in insurance premiums, we’ll have to make some tough decisions for our family, from not being able to save, to eliminate kids’ activities to reduce/eliminate insurance coverage even with the possibility of having to pay fines.
As you see, this can’t go on much longer. If we don’t do something now, the middle class will be totally eliminated and upper class will not be able to support all of the people at the bottom. This is the same situation we left behind in 1986 but this country’s leadership is steering the United States of America in the same direction. The only way I can see this changing is if all of our representatives and senators are willing to participate in the same healthcare/insurance plans as the constituents. Are you willing to stand with us to promote this idea? Are you willing to stand up and help those who are left without choices?
Thank you!
