Health coverage 'plan' was no insurance at all

[HM2VikingRN]

Mary Lloyd's husband was lying in the intensive care unit of an Arizona hospital when she got a good look at their new health insurance card for the first time.

Then she got the shock of her life. The card read: "This is NOT an insurance card."

For the retired couple from East Bethel, it was the beginning of a financial nightmare that left them with at least $50,000 in unpaid medical bills. They discovered that the new "health plan," they signed up for in January, for $499 a month, wouldn't pay for any of his medical care.

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/65911582.html?elr=KArksUUUoDEy3LGDiO7aiU

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

Now THAT'S something I didn't know..........I had insurance with two different companies under United Health Care. Unfortunately, I'm not sure where that paperwork is located, or even if I have it anymore (I'm a documentation guru at work, but a TERRIBLE record-keeper at home). Do you know how I might obtain copies of my creditable coverage certificates?

[azhiker96, BSN, RN]

Call United Healthcare and ask them to fax/mail you a letter showing your dates of coverage. Then contact your current company and tell them you're faxing that information to them. If they still balk let them know you're writting the state insurance commissioner and then do that. That office does have power apparently. Here's my story of using them.

Years ago on a weekend my wife had acute abd pain. I took her to the ER where they diagosed her with acute cholelithiasis, scheduled her in the OR, and took her gallbladder out. My insurance paid the ER fees but denied the operation saying it had not be pre-approved. Give me a break! How can I predict an emergency surgery. After going round and round I wrote the state insurance commissioner and gave him the details. A week later I got a call from my insurance saying they were cutting a check to the hospital. It's a shame but sometimes we have to hold their feet to the fire. Good luck on yours.

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

In terms of finance, we force 700,000 Americans into bankruptcy each year because of medical bills. In France, the number of medical bankruptcies is zero. Britain: zero. Japan: zero. Germany: zero.

[Pierrette]

In terms of finance, we force 700,000 Americans into bankruptcy each year because of medical bills. In France, the number of medical bankruptcies is zero. Britain: zero. Japan: zero. Germany: zero.

My goodness. I don't think I can stand another "everybody is better than the USA" post.

You win, Viking. I'm outta here.

[GCTMT]

^.. Yeah, the truth hurts.

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

In terms of finance, we force 700,000 Americans into bankruptcy each year because of medical bills. In France, the number of medical bankruptcies is zero. Britain: zero. Japan: zero. Germany: zero.

So what? I am sure that is because the government takes care of everything: no personal responsibility necessary. I am also sure that many of the "medical" bankruptcies in this country are not due soley to medical costs....we go once again to personal responsibilities and the choices people make in their lives.

[VivaLasViejas, ASN, RN]

tnt, I usually agree with you, but I think this "people need to take responsibility for their choices" is a straw man argument. If you read my post on the previous page, you know I'm all about personal responsibility, but I'm STILL getting screwed by my insurance company..........just like a lot of other middle-class people in this country.

To listen to some folks tell it, everyone who's having trouble affording healthcare these days is a lazy, irresponsible loser. Well, I don't consider myself one, and I am heartily sick of listening to people try to justify denying millions of people basic health services on account of the relative few who DO abuse the system.

That is all.

[tntrn, ASN, RN]

tnt, I usually agree with you, but I think this "people need to take responsibility for their choices" is a straw man argument. If you read my post on the previous page, you know I'm all about personal responsibility, but I'm STILL getting screwed by my insurance company..........just like a lot of other middle-class people in this country.

To listen to some folks tell it, everyone who's having trouble affording healthcare these days is a lazy, irresponsible loser. Well, I don't consider myself one, and I am heartily sick of listening to people try to justify denying millions of people basic health services on account of the relative few who DO abuse the system.

That is all.

And I am almost always in agreement with you also. I do realize that there are exceptions to all "rules". Your story, which I believe completely, is one of those exceptions. I also know people who are in dire straits, and have tried their hardest to do what is right and be responsible. But we both know that there are many who have used and reused and used again, the system, and when they do go bankrupt, if the final straw happens to be a medical thing, it's called a Medical Bankruptcy. That is why I posted what I did...because I don't for one minute think that all those bankruptcies happened just because of a medical crisis. Some may have, and you are a good example of what can happen. My best to you, as always.

I don't like blanket statements and that one about the medical bankruptcies seems to be just that, and without any supporting information as to what else might have contributed.

Surely there can be a mechanism to weed out the irresponsible users, help those who are not in that category, and leave those who are happy with things as they are for themselves alone.

[leslie :-D]

while i do believe that most of these bankrupties are r/t to medical crisis, i believe there are also some who refuse to pay their medical bills, knowing that this type of unpaid debt, will not affect your credit rating.

i've heard folks say this time and time again.

however, i did find viking's post about other countries w/zero bankruptcy, fascinating...

and find it worthy of further research.

if true, it is very telling about our coverage, or lack of.

leslie

[HM2VikingRN, RN]

TNT click the link....I am currently reading Mr. Reids book.

I am just starting chapter 2 and it is definitely eye opening. Basically most countries in the industrialized world have vibrant private markets with strict regulation.....Germany with 100 million people has 200 separate plans......All delivering average care that is better than ours at a lower cost.....

I love my country enough to tell her when she is wrong.....We have a unique opportunity to learn lessons from other countries to redesign our system to be better...

[Onekidneynurse]

I don't think the timelines support that comment....The larger issue was that this couple was a victim of fraud....

Willing victims. They didn't have to buy it. Why would they buy an off brand other than to get a "deal". A big deal it seems. And with bankruptcy they still get the healthcare for free.

[Onekidneynurse]

TNT click the link....I am currently reading Mr. Reids book.

I am just starting chapter 2 and it is definitely eye opening. Basically most countries in the industrialized world have vibrant private markets with strict regulation.....Germany with 100 million people has 200 separate plans......All delivering average care that is better than ours at a lower cost.....

I love my country enough to tell her when she is wrong.....We have a unique opportunity to learn lessons from other countries to redesign our system to be better...

And it's our government who won't let us buy into insurance. Most states limit the number of insurance companies able to sell insurance in their state. Why can't the feds get those laws changed? Why don't the states want to change them?

The countries you are using for examples are in the red with their healthcare programs. We have 3 times the number of people Germany does. We also have a much more diverse population.