Officials need to address 'family glitch'

An open letter to Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, Sens. Mike Crapo and Mike Simpson, and Reps. James Risch and Raul Labrador.

By RICK REED

Gentlemen:

I am writing you to be sure you are aware of the health care “family glitch,” and to let you know how it is not only affecting me, but clearly many other Idaho and American citizens. My story goes as this: I was renewing my health care for 2017, as the Health and Welfare folks had advised me by mail to do so, and everything was going fine, until I came to the end of the process. The defining question was, “Does your employer offer health care?”

My employer, with good intentions, just recently started to offer health care, which I turned down. This was due to the extremely high cost of including my wife and two children. My employer will cover half of only my cost, or about $190. In all, my family’s health insurance bill will approach about $900 per month if we go with my employer’s insurance. This amount is more than 20 percent of our family income. My health insurance bill with the insurance exchange was $165 for a high deductible and an HSA option, which was fine.

Upon the revelation of this question, it was then I realized my only option for insurance was through my employer. Of course, I am not able to pay this bill, and my family and I have no choice but to go without medical insurance. This was effective Nov. 1.

So, back to the numbers. My only option is to pay almost $11,000 a year for insurance, which would run us out of our home. Also, as I am sure there are many other families who are paying a similar amount, it is not going to do the economy any favors. This is due to the fact so much otherwise disposable income is going to the insurance companies.

So, we have ascertained that due to the “family glitch,” there are millions of families who simply can’t pay. Add to this each family of four will have to pay a fine approaching $3,000. With this, you have something which is, in no other words, obscene and immoral. How can any government in it’s right mind fine citizens for not paying for something they clearly cannot afford?

Furthermore, in reading through the Idaho Health Care website, it states it was an act of the congress to whom we can blame for this “glitch.” Congress is currently Republican. Therefore, it becomes incumbent upon our congresspersons to get to work to fix what I hope is an egregious mistake, and not a cynical attempt to undermine affordable health care for families in favor of business.

I look forward to a response from your office(s) with any plans you may have to remedy this situation.

Rick Reed is a Sandpoint resident.