The day before elections, I got an email from The Grinch. It was signed by my scenically named health-insurance company, but only the real Grinch could have written this: It told me my current “silver level” plan’s premium would rise to nearly $900 per month (full cost), starting Jan. 1. This health plan was made possible by the ACA, Affordable Care Act – go figure.

Because he doesn’t want us to prepare for Christmas, the Grinch is giving those of us who already have an ACA Plan until Dec. 15 to either A) find a lower-cost plan, or B) be locked into an unaffordable plan for all of 2015 – no joke. And good luck getting onto the Colorado website, which is overloaded now. The live chats and phone help lines were a half-hour wait, and complaints would be accepted only after a successful sign-in – wow, that’s good.

A local health-insurance broker saved me, finding an equal plan from the same insurance company for 30 percent less, merely by having the word “Range” in the name. Free-range chickens; not so free-range health plans. The only insurance company with a lower rate would not cover a visit to my primary care doctor, who I’ve seen for 22 years now. Oh, and when is the first payment on these 2015 plans due? Dec. 25 – Christmas Day – only the Grinch could come up with that!

Talk to your local health-insurance broker before Dec. 15 – you’ll have a merrier Christmas and a much happier New Year!

Carolyn A. Hunter

Durango