Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown, when questioned about the Affordable Care Act roll-out fiasco in Maryland, claims there are "more than 450,000 people with new or improved plans." What is not said is how many of those people were forced to sign up because their old insurance was canceled ("Hogan blasts Brown for health exchange 'disaster,' while Brown cites benefits," Oct. 13).
We had a high deductible insurance policy for my wife that was canceled. Upon trying to buy insurance through the exchange, we ended up being quoted a more expensive policy with a higher deductible as the least expensive alternative. I have heard the same story from many other people. We were lucky enough to be able to extend her policy for six months at a higher rate until she qualified for Medicare.
We did not need birth control or pregnancy coverage, nor mental health or drug addiction coverage. So the question is, Mr. Brown, how many of those people were forced to buy the insurance or were covered before and just moved onto Maryland's exchange by force and at what cost?
Craig Garfield, Ellicott City
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