An open letter to Providence
Both my husband and I are self-employed. We live in the 97031 zip code. We purchase our health insurance on the exchange. With no tax credit, our combined premiums for 2024 are $2,243 a month. You think this would give a decent coverage, but it is a workout to make sure we stay in network.
Prior to the exchange and even when we started purchasing on the exchange, we were able to choose an insurance provider that covered the doctors and hospitals here in Hood River along with Providence Portland and OHSU. A few years ago, we had to pick between Providence Portland and OHSU because there was no insurance company that covered both. We went with Providence Portland since Providence is our local hospital and also our primary care provider is part of the Providence Medical Group, so we purchased a Providence Insurance Plan. That Providence Insurance plan eventually dropped coverage of Providence Portland Hospital (yes, Providence Insurance not covering its own facilities). That year, we had no large hospital coverage at all.
We then switched to Blue Cross Blue Shield because it covered both the Hood River Hospital and OHSU. Now that plan sent us a letter stating that unless Providence agrees, we lose coverage at Providence Hood River Hospital on Jan. 15, and we lose coverage for our doctor on Jan. 15, 2025. This would be fine if we could purchase a Providence Insurance Plan on the exchange that covers both Providence Hood River Hospital and Providence Portland, but we cannot. This is unacceptable conduct by both Providence and Blue Cross Blue Shield, but Blue Cross Blue Shield is a business and Providence Hood River Hospital is supposed to care for the people in its community, even if that means not making as much money off of some of us.
Carolyn Smale, Hood River
Communism
If Trump would become our next president, we would see a Third Party. It would be the Communist Party, lead by Donald Trump.
If so, forget your right to vote. Also, will any of the people reading this letter come visit me in prison because of writing this letter?
I — and you — will lose our rights to vote or write letters to the editor.
Future convict,
Steve Cochenour, The Dalles
Still supporting Semi
The political establishment does not support Semi Bird because they are part of the problem that has taken a toll on the state's ability to limit out-of-control taxes and over-regulation and in many ways they are linked to the special interest because of political donations. Semi Bird is a threat to their way of doing business in Olympia. But one thing they don’t understand is that Semi has had to battle his whole life, just being raised in the poor part of Oakland was one of the roughest areas in the country, every day was a challenge to keep from ending up being a statistic. But his Mom instilled values in him that kept him from becoming a victim of the ghetto. Leaving High School to join the Marines was another challenge, the Marines didn't care about your age, you were a Marine and you were expected to act like one. During his time in the service he went on to get an education and he never stopped preparing himself for making a better future. Semi built his own successful business. Took on the unconstitutional mandate as a member of the school board and under pressure did not waver on his comment that the children have a right to not have their breathing restricted. All this to say Semi is no stranger to having to do battle for what is right his whole life has been facing challenges and overcoming them. So I say to the Establishment do not underestimate the power of the Bird. To find out more go to: birdforgovernor.com.
Delmer Eldred, Goldendale
Commented