What should we replace Obamacare with? Perhaps we should try freedom.

The freedom to choose inexpensive insurance free of government dictates.

The freedom to save unlimited amounts in a health savings account.

The freedom to buy insurance across state lines.

The freedom for all individuals to join together in voluntary associations to gain leverage of being part of a large insurance pool.

Question: Who should pay for those that choose not to or can’t buy insurance or can’t/won’t pay for it out of pocket?

Answer: Is it really any different than auto or house owners insurance? The basic premise of spreading out the costs associated with a small number of accidents/disasters whatsoever as compared to the number of people paying into the system has seemed to work for a long time.

If you choose not to buy auto or home insurance and something major happens, you are basically screwed. The same should happen with regards to health insurance – you sell your house, car, whatever belongings, until you have nothing left. If you have nothing to begin with, you should already be covered by one of the governments “safety nets” like Medicaid – again, we are all paying for it, just from a different pot of money.

I think we all pay slightly elevated home and auto premiums right now because of those that have chosen not to buy coverage. Why should the health be any different?

Years ago I was hit by an uninsured driver and my only recourse was to sue in court, but I chose not to since I figured the lawyers and time would not be worth it.

I think the original idea of Obamacare was realistic – if everyone purchased the insurance, the extra costs, whether for uninsured or those with expensive health conditions, would be spread over such a large number of people, the extra amount paid by each person would be nearly negligible. The problem that I had with this portion of his program was that it was compulsory – I should not have to pay a tax for simply being alive – it should be my choice.

Insurance is to guard against some potential risk and it should be my choice whether or not I want to “guard against” this risk. Should you have to pay for me when I gamble and lose? Absolutely not! I believe the real problem in all of this mess lies with the insurance companies. I feel the government has allowed them to gouge the citizens in order to make obscene profits.

The problem is that they have “bought off” politicians on both sides of the aisle that allow them to continue their practices. On a related note, I read a statistic that stated 10 percent of the people with the worst health consume 67 percent of the money spent on health care. Maybe there should be some focus on that segment of the population to figure out how we can lower their costs and the ripple effect through the rest of us should be significant.

I also take issue with the segment of the population that, for some strange reason, think healthcare is a right. Rights don’t cost money, especially MY money. The government needs to get out of the health-care business.

People like to point out all of the countries that have socialized medicine, but do not research them to find out how terrible, most if not all of these systems are. The VA should give those people a realistic view of how that system would work – people dying while waiting to see providers.

Richard Lancaster is a Westfield resident.