DeAnne
Mike CrowlHealth Care "Death Panels" - We already have them!
August 11th 2009 00:11
Sarah Palin recently made headlines, again, for a comment she made on FaceBook about the "Death Panels" that would be created if Obama's healthcare reform passes. My question is, where has she been?
The insurance companies we have now already have these so called "Death Panels." The President's plan, however, does not. That is part of the REFORM - making it illegal for these companies to deny coverage, or deny payment -- which results in DEATH to those people to whom coverage or treatment is denied.
American Health Care Reform.Org has a listing of "Bad Companies" - insurance & pharmaceutical companies found guilty or currently under investigation for breaking the law or for bad practices. The question they ask, "Is it any wonder we have the most expensive health care system in the world and we get so little for our money?!?!???"
CIGNA
The doctors agreed she needed a procedure to live, but the insurance company's "Death Panel" denied it, until it was too late.
HEALTH NET
Why should anyone be required to disclose a heart condition or weight? We pay for insurance to cover unexpected illnesses, and routine medical care. Just because someone has a heart condition, or is overweight, doesn't mean he or she shouldn't be entitled to coverage. That person NEEDS the coverage even more!!!!
That's really low - cancelling them AFTER they make a claim. Why do we keep putting up with these practices. And Sarah Palin called the President's plan "evil," what does she call this?
ALL HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES practice unfair "balance billing"
This has happened to me; I'm sure it's happened to most of you. You take your child to the emergency room - at a hospital that is in your network. But, the doctor isn't in the network, and/or the radiologist who reads the x-rays isn't in the network. The insurance pays for the emergency room (minus your deductible) but then doesn't pay the doctor, or the radiologist. You're stuck with a huge bill - even though you have insurance - you pay the outrageous premiums, and you still get stuck with the bill! It's unfair, and it's outrageous!
If you don't support the concept of single-payer, you should at least support some reform. Insurance companies should not be allowed to deny coverage or payment for any reason. If a doctor thinks you need treatment, it should be paid for. Don't believe the hype. Our President doesn't want "Death Panels" to decide your fate. He wants YOU and YOUR DOCTOR to decide what treatment you need and want. He wants YOU to be able to get as good of health care coverage as HE gets. Write to your representatives and tell them what YOU want. Do the research. Be informed. Demand REFORM! If you don't like the reform plan as it currently stands, offer your suggestions -- just don't believe the HYPE!
The insurance companies we have now already have these so called "Death Panels." The President's plan, however, does not. That is part of the REFORM - making it illegal for these companies to deny coverage, or deny payment -- which results in DEATH to those people to whom coverage or treatment is denied.
American Health Care Reform.Org has a listing of "Bad Companies" - insurance & pharmaceutical companies found guilty or currently under investigation for breaking the law or for bad practices. The question they ask, "Is it any wonder we have the most expensive health care system in the world and we get so little for our money?!?!???"
CIGNA
Health Insurer to be Charged with Teen's Murder Dec. 22, 2007
Nataline Sarkisyan, 17, died just hours after Cigna reversed its decision and approved the procedure it had previously described as "too experimental…and unproven."
"All of the doctors there unanimously agreed that she needed and should have that liver transplant. And the only entity, if you will, who said no to that in the middle of that medical decision, was some piece of garbage who decided that making a couple of dollars, or saving them a couple of dollars, was worth more than the 65% chance over six months that she would survive,"...
Nataline Sarkisyan, 17, died just hours after Cigna reversed its decision and approved the procedure it had previously described as "too experimental…and unproven."
"All of the doctors there unanimously agreed that she needed and should have that liver transplant. And the only entity, if you will, who said no to that in the middle of that medical decision, was some piece of garbage who decided that making a couple of dollars, or saving them a couple of dollars, was worth more than the 65% chance over six months that she would survive,"...
The doctors agreed she needed a procedure to live, but the insurance company's "Death Panel" denied it, until it was too late.
HEALTH NET
Patsy Bates, 52, a hairdresser from Lakewood (Los Angeles County), had been left with more than $129,000 in unpaid medical bills when Health Net Inc. canceled her policy in 2004. The insurer contended Bates failed to disclose a heart condition and lied about her weight when she applied for the policy in July 2003.
But arbitration judge Sam Cianchetti ordered Health Net to pay her medical bills, plus $8.4 million in punitive damages and $750,000 for emotional distress.
But arbitration judge Sam Cianchetti ordered Health Net to pay her medical bills, plus $8.4 million in punitive damages and $750,000 for emotional distress.
Why should anyone be required to disclose a heart condition or weight? We pay for insurance to cover unexpected illnesses, and routine medical care. Just because someone has a heart condition, or is overweight, doesn't mean he or she shouldn't be entitled to coverage. That person NEEDS the coverage even more!!!!
Los Angeles City Attorney Sues Health Net, Alleging Scheme to Cancel Policies
"This practice of post-claims policy cancelation is unlawful, unfair and fraudulent," said City Attorney Delgadillo. Health Net went so far as to create a secret unit to cancel policies when patients needed expensive medical treatment. Health Net Inc. saved about $35 million by illegally canceling the coverage of at least 1,600 patients over four years, the city attorney's office alleges in the lawsuit filed Wednesday. "Health Net provided benchmarks and economic incentives to the individual responsible for these illegal cancelations, should she reach the company's goals," City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said in an interview.
"This practice of post-claims policy cancelation is unlawful, unfair and fraudulent," said City Attorney Delgadillo. Health Net went so far as to create a secret unit to cancel policies when patients needed expensive medical treatment. Health Net Inc. saved about $35 million by illegally canceling the coverage of at least 1,600 patients over four years, the city attorney's office alleges in the lawsuit filed Wednesday. "Health Net provided benchmarks and economic incentives to the individual responsible for these illegal cancelations, should she reach the company's goals," City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo said in an interview.
That's really low - cancelling them AFTER they make a claim. Why do we keep putting up with these practices. And Sarah Palin called the President's plan "evil," what does she call this?
ALL HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES practice unfair "balance billing"
The Wall Street Journal / December 4, 2008
Surprise Health Bills Make People See Red
By Anna Wilde Mathews
Insured patients are sometimes hit with unforeseen charges after emergencies, when they are taken to the closest hospital regardless of whether the facility accepts their insurance. Consumers also may be billed after visiting in-network hospitals if they received treatment from medical providers who work there but don't participate in the same health plans. When that happens, insurers often pay part of the doctors' fees, and the physicians bill patients for the difference. This is the practice known as balance billing, and it can leave consumers battling both the insurer and the medical provider to get the charge reduced.
California regulators recently made it illegal for people covered by health-maintenance organizations to be balance-billed for out-of-network emergency services.
Physician groups say doctors have the right to refuse to sign up with insurers' networks, and regulators shouldn't bar doctors who don't participate in health plans from billing insured patients. They say that insurers' payments to out-of-network health providers are often unfairly small. "You can't turn it around and say it's the doctor's fault," says Nancy Nielsen, president of the American Medical Association.
Insurers counter that they shouldn't be forced to pay whatever fee out-of-network health-care providers demand. "You have a set of specialists who won't contract with health plans, and they want to bill whatever they choose," says Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans.
Surprise Health Bills Make People See Red
By Anna Wilde Mathews
Insured patients are sometimes hit with unforeseen charges after emergencies, when they are taken to the closest hospital regardless of whether the facility accepts their insurance. Consumers also may be billed after visiting in-network hospitals if they received treatment from medical providers who work there but don't participate in the same health plans. When that happens, insurers often pay part of the doctors' fees, and the physicians bill patients for the difference. This is the practice known as balance billing, and it can leave consumers battling both the insurer and the medical provider to get the charge reduced.
California regulators recently made it illegal for people covered by health-maintenance organizations to be balance-billed for out-of-network emergency services.
Physician groups say doctors have the right to refuse to sign up with insurers' networks, and regulators shouldn't bar doctors who don't participate in health plans from billing insured patients. They say that insurers' payments to out-of-network health providers are often unfairly small. "You can't turn it around and say it's the doctor's fault," says Nancy Nielsen, president of the American Medical Association.
Insurers counter that they shouldn't be forced to pay whatever fee out-of-network health-care providers demand. "You have a set of specialists who won't contract with health plans, and they want to bill whatever they choose," says Robert Zirkelbach, a spokesman for America's Health Insurance Plans.
This has happened to me; I'm sure it's happened to most of you. You take your child to the emergency room - at a hospital that is in your network. But, the doctor isn't in the network, and/or the radiologist who reads the x-rays isn't in the network. The insurance pays for the emergency room (minus your deductible) but then doesn't pay the doctor, or the radiologist. You're stuck with a huge bill - even though you have insurance - you pay the outrageous premiums, and you still get stuck with the bill! It's unfair, and it's outrageous!
If you don't support the concept of single-payer, you should at least support some reform. Insurance companies should not be allowed to deny coverage or payment for any reason. If a doctor thinks you need treatment, it should be paid for. Don't believe the hype. Our President doesn't want "Death Panels" to decide your fate. He wants YOU and YOUR DOCTOR to decide what treatment you need and want. He wants YOU to be able to get as good of health care coverage as HE gets. Write to your representatives and tell them what YOU want. Do the research. Be informed. Demand REFORM! If you don't like the reform plan as it currently stands, offer your suggestions -- just don't believe the HYPE!
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