What issues do you think about when deciding which candidates to vote for? For many people, it’s the cost of living. The increasing price of gasoline and groceries are a daily reminder that essentials are becoming unaffordable. Healthcare is another major expense. If you haven’t seen the cost of your 2027 health insurance policy, prepare for sticker shock.
If you work at a large company or for the government, your employer pays for a significant portion of your health insurance. But as healthcare becomes more expensive, employers are shifting more of that cost to their employees. It’s projected that employees will see a 10% increase in the price of health insurance next year.
People who work at small businesses typically pay the entire cost of their insurance and have already been hit with skyrocketing premiums. Over 150,000 Ohioans who bought health insurance from the marketplace didn’t renew it because it was too expensive.
Some retirees on Medicare Advantage will have unpleasant surprises when they renew their insurance. There will be fewer plans to choose from, the cost is expected to rise by an average of $135, and some plans will no longer cover medications.
If you have traditional Medicare, you should know that Ohio now uses artificial intelligence to review requests for some medical services, causing patients to wait longer for care.
These problems are the result of the “beautiful” bill passed by Congress last year. Both Representative Bob Latta and Senator Jon Husted voted for the bill. I contacted Representative Latta to express my concerns about the elimination of the tax credit for marketplace insurance. His staff told me that many people who were given the credit didn’t need it. I don’t think the 150,000 Ohioans who dropped their insurance because they couldn’t afford it would agree.
And here’s the kicker: Bob Latta and Jon Husted make almost $200,000 a year and taxpayers pay about 70% of their health insurance. Taxpayers subsidize healthcare for politicians, but our representatives think couples who earn half of what they make should pay $25,000 a year for health insurance. If you don’t believe that some people without employer-based health care pay that much, do your own research.
Senator Husted and Representative Latta are stripping us of our healthcare while showering the upper crust with tax breaks. They don’t deserve to be reelected.
Debbie Dalke
Bowling Green
