Frank Castiglia Jr.: Double Dipping Part 2

by Contributor | January 28, 2021 12:27 pm

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.

Source URL: https://oswegocountytoday.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/frank-castiglia-jr-double-dipping-part-2/

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