Give me bankruptcy or give me death?
The Status Quo- Insurance Scam.
I work in the medical field and healthcare reform is a great idea. It's about time.
I've sat by powerless, while many people have died in my care waiting for insurance companies to authorize non-formulary medications or treatments. Most people are healthy and don't realize how small the list of authorized formulary items is, until it's too late. Bankruptcy or Death is not what Americans should have to choose between. Health Security should be a right.
Even greedy self-loathing hypocrites whom don't like being GUARANTEED protection will someday need more than they can afford, so then, its illness or bankruptcy or DEATH for themselves or a loved one. Anyone who has tried calling an insurance company knows the truth. There is almost no regulation and mostly people just dance in circles with the insurance companies until it is too late. Time is on the insurance companies’ side. For them, time is money and for us or our families it may be a matter of health or death.
Insurance companies are mostly monopolies unto themselves and many are members of larger conglomerates. I am a medical professional and I see and hear it everyday. "What do you mean insurance won't pay? I pay $150 a month and my insurance is supposed to be great." --OR-- "I'm sorry the insurance denied your daughter's medication or transplant and she only has a few months left to live." --OR-- "I'm sorry there is nothing we can do. You'll have to call your insurance."
Stonewalling and stalling and a lack of accountability is the name of the insurance game. Competition is a great thing. It's time everyone stood up and said, "We have a right to health security." Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness? There can be no life if you’re dead and no one can Pursue Happiness if permanently disabled or permanently in debt.
Prior authorizations are a scam to buy time for the insurance companies to earn interest on the money they have before it has to be spent. Many tests and denials and ICD-9 and CPT codes are a ploy in an attempt to deny coverage if every T is not crossed and every I is not dotted. If you die while completing all the required yet unnecessary tests and waiting for the prior authorization approval and the Doctors are REQUIRED to send your entire medical chart for review (in some cases) and approval. The insurance companies don't have to pay out on your behalf if your dead. It's free money for them at the cost of your life.
Most insurance policies have a (lifetime maximum coverage) many are ONE or FIVE MILLION dollars of lifetime coverage, some are TEN MILLION dollars and very few, if any are available to you, have an UNLIMITED dollar amount of coverage. If you become severely or deathly ill and you reach the lifetime maximum they can and WILL promptly end your coverage and there is nothing you can do since it’s in the policy. Most people don’t care until it’s too late. It’s time to protect the individual not the corporations. There should be: no co pays, no deductibles, no denials, no lifetime maximums, no formulary, no cancellations… no surprises.
Competition is the backbone of America's economy. The insurance companies are getting fat while American's are dying daily and it’s completely the insurance companies’ fault. Insurance companies appear to be afraid of competition and innovation "the backbone" of American Capitalism. It is time the insurance companies heard our voices.
There is also the issue of pre-existing conditions. If someone or their family member has Cancer or some other terminal illness and the primary bread winner loses their job. COBRA doesn't help because the individual has to pay the entire insurance premium and then it's only for six months, except they lost their job and can't afford it. --OR-- Maybe they find another job but it's a different insurance carrier or it's too late for the six month window to cover them. It is now a pre-existing condition so they will not be covered for that issue for at least a year, in which time death is possible. Then the only choice is Death or Bankruptcy. COBRA is false security not health security. HEALTH SECURITY SHOULD BE AN AMERICAN RIGHT! Regulation, Accountability and Oversight is the key that all should follow. There should be no more deregulation, that is the reason we are in this mess in the first place. Greed and the lack of government oversight will be the downfall of American security more than any other issue. It is time we protect our future, individually and collectively. The American Mantra was "Give me liberty or give me death." --NOT-- "Give me bankruptcy or give me death." This is a choice no one should make.
It’s time we thank the President for his time and concern in trying to make America a more secure and better place to live. The President is the most powerful man in the world, he should step up and make the changes if Congress won’t. Think of yours as well as everyone's children and grandchildren's futures. Money isn't everything. Please read Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs.
It’s time to stop the greedy lobbyists and Republicans with no Health Care plan except for profits and blocking any attempt to help Americans. You can’t put a dollar sign on human life and health. They need to realize they are only making themselves look bad and lazy and irresponsible. It is stated, "We the people...not we the corporations." This needs to happen at all costs. The true security of America and its future hinges on its health and stability and competition, not the monopolizing of an industry. History books will show that President Obama tried and the Republicans did nothing but hate and whine and stall hoping this will blow over.
We are volunteering to give up our representation and protections based entirely on what mass media and lobbyists want us to think. It's time to think with our hearts and our logic. We need to lead ourselves to a better future not sit by and say, "Oh well."
Who is trying to make the world a better place? Who has our best interests at heart? Who is really fighting for us? Who is fighting for big companies? Right now, insurance companies are getting rich and don’t care if they deny you coverage and the hospitals are being forced to send you to collections with no protection for your family.
There are too many lies and too much fear mongering. Even Sarah Palin pushed for educating Alaskans a few years ago on advance directives, also known as; living wills, end of life counseling, death panels. Now she’s in front of the camera talking about killing Grandma. Hmm? Makes you wonder.
Republicans these days are opportunistic liars. Democrats help the needy and Republicans help the greedy. Well it’s time we say, “Trying to do something is better than nothing. So shut up and do something already.”
More insurance companies can afford lobbyists to get closer to our politicians. It’s time we spoke up as one thunderous voice and drown out the people that don’t have your best interests at heart, unless it’s profitable.
Will you ever need help in these unstable times? Are you willing to bet your life on it? Your family member’s lives? Your kid’s lives?
Do not let anyone sway your ideals or ethics. It’s time to worry about yourselves and your loved ones, your neighbors and your friends. Read between the lines. It’s not about money… or is it? Bankruptcy, I guess, is always an option but a mob mentality and a resistance to change will only hurt us and our families.
Who’s protecting you? You are never more alone than when you trust insurance companies to stand beside you in an emergency. We now have the chance to change things for the better. It’s time to stand with President Obama to fight to protect us.
I have an Associate’s Degree as a Medical Assistant, a license as an EMT, a CNA certification, IV certification, CPR certification, QMAP certification, and I am currently in school to get my Registered Nurse and someday I hope to be a Nurse Practitioner or Doctor of Osteopathy. I believe in fighting for patient rights and security.
