To the Editor:

I am writing to describe how essential the Patient Care and Affordable Act (Obamacare) has been to me and my family.

I am an independent small-business person, having grown my business from a sole proprietorship, in 1979, to a total of 15 employees today. For all those years, I have provided good, quality health coverage for myself and my employees. I think it’s fair to say my business has paid considerably more in premiums for insurance than the insurance companies have spent for our health costs.

In 2011 and 2012, I was able, because of Obamacare, to maintain our 23-year-old daughter, a recent college graduate, on my health insurance until she obtained a job with her own benefits.

In late 2012, after having paid continually for 33 years medical insurance premiums for me and my employees, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Because Obamacare eliminated pre-existing condition denials, I was able to maintain my health insurance. Additionally, because of Obamacare, I didn’t have to worry about a $1,000,000 lifetime coverage limit. Without the Affordable Care Act, my family would be on the way to financial destitution, and I would be facing a sooner0than-necessary death. I am still working, contributing to my business and helping my clients, paying taxes and being a productive member of society, thanks to Obamacare.

I hope this story is helpful and encouraging to you as we await full implementation of the act in 2014 and 2015.

Frederick Hutchins, CPA

Kitty Hawk