To the Editor,
After reading explanations from 4 different Oswego county officials about how it is standard practice for the county to ask for insurance cards for any federally or state-funded vaccines, I felt it necessary to look deeper into this issue.
First let’s set the record straight, the Covid-19 pandemic is not standard, just ask anyone that has taken care of a person in the hospital if it is standard.
Now I did research the adjacent counties, Oneida, Wayne, Jefferson, and Onondaga to see what their county was doing in regards to asking for Insurance cards at their county-run sites. All of them said NO they don’t ask for anything other than driver’s license for proof of age, and work ID for proof of work. The person from Wayne county even said “Why would we do that, it is federally funded”.
Now knowing that information. I have to again say that Oswego county is double dipping.
If an individual or a government is taking advantage of an issue and therefore abusing the system they are ethically wrong. The point here is that just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should do it. It is not illegal, but it is not ethical.
The county government is the biggest single recipient of “public assistance” in this county. All of their salaries come from taxpayers’ donations via taxes. Also they receive federal money and state money for many programs.
With the above information in mind, ask the county, why if you are getting paid by the federal government for the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine would you look to receive additional payment from the Insurance company.
The only answer is that you are abusing the system. You are taking advantage of a pandemic to take advantage of the public you are sworn to serve. Federal tax money to pay for the distribution of the Covid-19 vaccine comes from our pockets. We all pay Federal, State and Local Taxes.
Why should anyone pay twice for the same vaccine. The county is asking all the taxpayers in Oswego county to do just that. Werther they have insurance or not.
None of our sister counties are asking for extra payment. Ask your friends and relatives across New York State what they are being charged to be vaccinated in their county.
Just because you can do something doesn’t mean you should. There is a clause that states that a fee may be charged for the administering of the Covid-19 vaccine. That is in there for the private sector, also the public sector but most counties are not abusing their taxpayers.
I again repeat what the person from Wayne county said “Why would we do that? It is Federally funded”. The Oswego County legislature owes their taxpayers and residents a full and detailed accounting of the state and federal monies received and used to battle this pandemic, including this “administrative” fee your insurance companies are being charged.
With all this info in mind I say “Cease and desist” Oswego county.
Call your legislator and tell him “Cease and desist” asking for the insurance cards for Covid-19 vaccine.
Frank Castiglia Jr.
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I reached out to a county legislator and was informed that if you have no insurance the federal government will pay first the test. If you do have insurance then the insurance company will pick up the bill. This is consistent with what I have been under the impression of how it works. If you recall when this all started the insurance companies said they would cover the testing and the federal government would pay for those not covered by insurance. So in the future I suggest that you get all the facts straight before posting the information. I’m okay with you expressing your opinion but make sure all the facts are put out there. We have enough fake unsubstantiated news to deal with now
Donald Ritchie, Please get on the right page. This is not about testing it’s about the vaccine. So please figure out what a letter is about before you put your pen to paper. Talk about knowing your facts before you write something. It’s about double dipping for the vaccine and how no other county is asking for Insurance cards to get paid twice for the same vaccine. Talk about Fake unsubstantiated news, how about we compare apples to apples not apples to oranges like you just tried to do. You guys just make it to easy.
You should then know that the vaccine may be free but you can be charged for getting it administered. I again suggest you get all your fact straight. Talk about being easy you should look in the mirror.
Donald Ritchie, why is it that when ever someone like yourself gets caught in misinformation they change the subject to meet their means. My letter was about the double dipping of funds for the vaccine and your original criticism of my letter was in detail about how testing was free for those that didn’t have insurance. Now you changed it to Vaccine and how the vaccine is free but a fee may be charged for administering it. Which is what I said in my letter but criticized the county for asking for ins. cards when NO other county around us was doing it because it was Federally funded. That includes administering it also. The county will receive money for the number of vaccines it receives and then also receive money from the Ins. co. billed so it is called double dipping. Then the ins. co. will in turn bill the Federal Govt. for the administering of the vaccine they were billed for. Again double dipping. When I look in the mirror I see someone that is fighting for the people. Stop trying to justify the County govt. double dipping which in the long run we the people will pay for. Where do you think the money comes from to pay the ins. co. and the county. Us!
Why is it someone like you don’t give all the information and point at someone else. You seem to always look for something to point the finger at. The fact is I did respond to what I thought was about testing. But shown I responded to the actual facts about the vaccine and the they can charge for administering it. You dismiss that fact and those that can’t afford it don’t pay anyway and those that do pay for it have always been paying for those that don’t. It isn’t the county government that set that process in action. I don’t like having to pay for those that can but won’t work either. But until the economy gets better and people get back to work and those that can but won’t work step up and become responsible and contribute the working people and those of us who worked most of our lives and retired and still pay taxes will be in this situation. I suggest that you set up a way for the elected officials to come up with solutions and instead of pointing fingers and complaining become more helpful. You seem like an intelligent person so I sure if you put your mind to it you could help. You probably would get more people willing to step up and stand with you. You want change then be the person that helps bring about that change.