Bangor Daily News reporter Jackie Farwell’s article, “Healthcare.gov shoppers paying $99 for premiums, on average” published June 19, was deceptive.

The real news here is that the article’s cost data proves there is a 57 percent increase in average monthly premiums under Obamacare. Yet, Farwell touts how great it is that the premium paid by buyers under Obamacare is $99 — a third of the $282 premium buyers paid in 2010.

In paragraph seven, she finally writes that the total average monthly premium is $443, with burdened taxpayers paying a hefty $344 monthly subsidy —  75 percent of the premium.

The HHS secretary’s cited quote that “nearly seven in 10 consumers … are paying $100 or less …” likewise exemplifies the same deception being used by the Obama administration.

Much of the extra cost is likely attributable to all the mandatory coverage requirements under Obamacare, whether needed or not.

Much more can be accomplished by replacing Obamacare with a free-market solution that provides health care plan subsidies for the nation’s poorest, purchasing of health plans across state lines to promote competition, and minimum plan requirements with a variety of additional coverage add-ons to choose from.

Sun Journal readers deserve better reporting. It was easy to figure it out.

Peter Cipolloso, Oxford

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