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Blame lawmakers who won't fix health care system

Definition of "actuary": a person who compiles and analyzes statistics and uses them to calculate insurance risks and premiums.

Opponents of Obamacare made all sorts of unfounded claims, among them "death squads." Of course, none have appeared. However, the move among Obamacare opponents to go back to the time when insurance carriers could enforce their need to produce profits at the expense of customers by denying coverage could return. Behind all of this is the actuary, whose life is dedicated to producing mathematical projections; the results are used by management to produce "insurance policy." If the premium covers the projected cost, coverage is approved. If not, coverage is denied and so is the treatment. These are the real "death squads."

Actuarial projections are also the reason for "mandatory" coverage. Automobile insurance works because it's mandatory. So, is homeowner insurance if you have a mortgage. Without mandatory coverage, premiums would be beyond reach for most.

So, who are the villains? It's not the actuary. They are doing their job. It's the legislatures who oppose mandatory coverage. Most are Republicans.

Elections matter, so it is important to know how your candidate feels about health insurance when you vote in the 2018 elections.

John S. Strauss

Campton Hills

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