Insurance Practices: Delay, Diminish, Deny, & Blame

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For those interested in the power, politics, and profit of medical and disability insurance, have a gander at this report.

http://www.projectcensored.org/Health_Study_Final.pdf

I'm already an advocate of a well-regulated, single-payer health insurance system. This report strengthens that belief.

The issue is not simple, to be sure, but the status quo just seems so wrong on so many levels.

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...Lyle Schiele of Dallas.

“As an owner/operator in the trucking industry, I was contracted to a major trucking company. I purchased my health insurance at what was to me an enormous monthly cost of $760 through that company.

“In February ’06 I had some minor chest pains. Doctors found clogged coronary arteries and treated them with stents in two locations. As a result of this diagnosis and treatment, I was medically disqualified from trucking for 90 days. As a contractor, I wasn’t covered by COBRA and therefore lost my health insurance.

“After returning to trucking as an owner/operator and applying with several different insurance companies, I found none would sell me any. Recently, as a matter of necessity, I sold my truck and went to work as a driver with a company, primarily for the health insurance benefit.

“I was not looking for a handout. I don’t mind paying my own way. But I am no longer given that opportunity. The ‘American Dream’ of owning and operating one’s own business and success based on one’s ability and performance has been taken away. Because of the health insurance issue I can no longer operate as an independent again.”...

http://www.wacotrib.com/search/content/news/opinion/stories/2008/02/10/02102008wacdemoro.html

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The right to health care is a BASIC HUMAN RIGHT, hard for some Americans to embrace.

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Believing in the Right to health care is an extension of core nursing values...

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Specializes in being a Credible Source.
Believing in the Right to health care is an extension of core nursing values...

I'm just beginning my nursing studies. I was reading through one of my "Fundamentals" chapters and that same though occurred to me.

One of my classmates identified 'justice' as one of her core values; this led to a discussion of justice as it pertains to the American health care delivery system. It's many things but 'just' is not one of them.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

[color=#242424]pacificare denies 17-year-old cancer patient lifesaving treatment

http://openthread.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/3/24/115039/455/421/481639

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I am glad California is investigating Pacificare. That report is mind boggling, how have they been able to get away with this? Maybe things will change after the investigation and many more law suits.

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

looks like all the phone calls and e-mails helped change the insurance company decision

protestors hit pacificare on treatment

03/25/2008 01:03:03 pm pdt

cypress - health insurer pacificare reversed its denial of advanced radiation treatment for a placentia teenage, but the youth's supporters went ahead with a scheduled demonstration while waiting to see the company's decision in writing.

http://www.presstelegram.com/breakingnews/ci_8693080

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

a very nice “thank you” from the brother!

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2008/3/26/143420/412/381/484746

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

1,200 people to have canceled healthcare coverage restored

two of the state's largest health plans agreed thursday to reinstate coverage to nearly 1,200 patients whose policies were dropped after they incurred high medical expenses.

under the deal, patients whose insurance was rescinded by kaiser permanente or health net since 2004 will be allowed to purchase new insurance regardless of preexisting medical conditions

http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-fi-insure16-2008may16,0,6276604.story

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looks like all the phone calls and e-mails helped change the insurance company decision

that's good news for that kid but, of course, in the larger sense, whether or not you're going to get treatment for your medical condition paid for shouldn't depend on how effective you can be at organizing a public protest campaign ... :uhoh21:

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Specializes in Critical care, tele, Medical-Surgical.

healthcare activists plan june 19th as national day of action against health insurance companies

[color=#333333]thousands to gather in san francisco and around country as 38,000 insurance industry executives meet for annual ahip convention

[color=#333333]nurses, doctors, patients, consumer activists call for guaranteed, single-payer healthcare-"patients not profits"

[color=#333333]seeking an end to the healthcare crisis that is destroying american lives and families, thousands of healthcare activists will descend on san francisco and on cities around the country this june 19th as part of an unprecedented national day of protests against health insurance corporations-and in support of guaranteed, single-payer healthcare, the

[color=#333333]"medicare for all" system succeeding in nearly every other industrialized democracy.

[color=#333333]the protests will demand a healthcare system focused on patients, not profits, and are being coordinated by the leadership conference on guaranteed healthcare, a coalition group representing hundreds of thousands of members. learn more at http://www.guaranteedhealthcare.org.

the national day of action is timed in conjunction with the annual convention of america's health insurance plans (ahip), the insurance industry lobbying group dedicated to blocking healthcare reform....

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/108420.php

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