LETTERS: Obamacare deductibles spring surprise

To the editor:

As expected, on the first full day back to work after the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, there was mass confusion for the four patients with brand-new coverage who called my office. And of course, because none had their insurance cards, it was almost impossible to get through to insurers to verify that these patients had coverage.

But when we did get through, lo and behold, our four patients had absolutely not a clue that their deductibles ranged from $2,000 to $5,000. When my office manager explained to each patient that they would have to pay for the visit, you know how many chose to do so? Zero. They all left in a huff.

This was Day One, and already the ACA enrollees aren’t sure what they signed up for in health care benefits. I can only shake my head as to what next week will bring.

TED COHEN, D.P.M.

LAS VEGAS

Give Obamacare time

To the editor:

In the early 1980s, General Motors embarked upon an enormous investment in automation. In 1985, it opened its showcase: the new Hamtramck factory in Detroit. It had 50 automatic guided vehicles to ferry parts around the plant, and 260 robots to weld and paint. It turned out not to be such a good idea.

The production lines ground to a halt for hours while technicians tried to debug software. When they did work, the robots often began dismembering each other, smashing cars, spraying paint everywhere, or even fitting the wrong equipment.

It takes time to get new systems up and running correctly. The Affordable Care Act had a rocky start, but give it time and it will be as dependable and efficient as other government programs, such as Medicare and Social Security.

RON LOWE

NEVADA CITY, CALIF.

Private-sector jobs

To the editor:

The heartrending letter from senior citizen Jon Olsen, documenting his futile quest for a job, should arouse a lot of sympathy over his frustration (“Older job seekers need extended jobless benefits,” Saturday Review-Journal). But did you notice how Mr. Olsen solved his problem? He found a job in the government, because no job opportunities existed for him in the private sector.

What can we conclude from this? Can we see that government employment is the driving force in our American society today? Can we see that it ultimately will lead to the socialism of America, where everyone works for the government and there is no private sector left?

Isn’t that what Mr. Olsen’s letter leads us to believe? I think so.

FRANK M. PELTESON

LAS VEGAS

Unemployment benefits

To the editor:

I am disillusioned by the direction our socialistic country is heading by subsidizing most everything. This is coming from a person who grew up when Americans had values. I was raised during the Great Depression, and my father died when I was 9 years old. My two brothers and I tightened our boot laces and went to work.

I got a job doing anything I could — yard work, picking up garbage, janitorial work, loading bread trucks and more. Many working days began at 4 a.m., before school started. In any spare time, we hunted for rabbits and birds to put food on our table. We took responsibility for our lives, and all three of us made something of ourselves. We always worked and never received unemployment benefits. That was the American way. During the Depression, the government gave job opportunities through the Works Progress Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps programs, so most everyone had a chance to support themselves.

We all served our country during World War II. I have to admit that I did get a subsidy from the government. While in the Navy, I was supporting my mother. My overseas pay was $30 a month. The government sent half of my pay to my mom, which they matched, so she received $30 a month to live on until I was honorably discharged. I might note that there was no minimum wage in those early days, and it was not unlawful to work at any age. I was happy to get 10 or 20 cents per hour for the privilege of working.

These kids today are deprived of making something of themselves. Looking back, I felt that growing up in poverty was a great time in our lives. It taught us values, the rewards of hard work and to be responsible for our own future. All three of us led honorable lives and became successful on our own, being frugal, thrifty and hard-working. I am sure that there are some well-deserving individuals on unemployment benefits, but I’ll bet most take the attitude, “Why work when the government is offering all the freebies?”

Get a job doing something and wait for a better position to open up for you. A restaurant manager told me recently that she just interviewed a cook who refused the job, saying he is making almost that much on unemployment and doesn’t have to work. That says it all.

CHRIS KLINEBURGER

LAS VEGAS