Editor:

You want to drive a car you need auto insurance or a bond. You want to work, you pay FICA. Why do so many expect to get free medical treatment, without insurance, particularly those who have the means? They choose to live off the system without taking any responsibly to insure that that system is around down the road if and when they might need it. They learned how to scam Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986 which requires hospitals and ambulance services to provide care to anyone needing emergency healthcare treatment, regardless of citizenship, legal status or ability to pay. Because of this, more than half of all emergency room care in the U.S. now go uncompensated contributing to the high overall rate of medical inflation in the U.S.

I've paid for health insurance for over 45 years to insure that I have access to a well equipped hospital and staff to save my life, if I ever need it.

So, for those who want to do away with Obamacare, repeal the Emergency Medical Treatment Act first. Then, for those with the ability to pay but prefer not to purchase insurance, if they need medical services, require a prepayment of at least a 100% premium over the actual cost to help cover maintaining the hospital, equipment and staff 24/7, not just for the short time they need it for treatment.

The U.S. ranks 45th in the world regarding infant mortality and lags behind other developed nations in many areas of health care while leading the world in the cost of health care. Insurance companies and drug manufacturers continue to bilk the system, using payola to buy off politicians and gain doctor's support. There is something drastically wrong with this picture.

Gordon Clay
Brookings