Disturbing article which outlines the strain excessive insurance company profits place on the patient access to health care . . . jomaxx
Insurance company profits are destroying health care
By Jeanette Oxelson
Monday, January 28, 2008
Brian Schwartz’ letter (Politically Controlled Insurance is a Disease, 1/17/08) concerning politically controlled medical insurance was right on the money but didn’t go quite far enough. I will never understand why something everyone must have or possibly die without is being run by for-profit companies. At best, this would seem to cause severe conflicts of interest; at worst, it’s simply legalized extortion.
A friend with Type I diabetes was put on an insulin pump by his doctor. This required a different type of insulin for the pump to work at maximum efficiency. But the insurance company decided he didn’t need the change, despite several letters to the contrary from his doctor. (It was a couple dollars more than the old insulin.) Plus, using their “one-size-fits-all” mentality, they told him he was using too many test strips and would only pay for half what he needed (again, per his doctor) to keep his blood sugar at acceptable levels.
I know a 93-year-old lady in a nursing home who was put on oxygen by her doctor. Again, using their “everyone-is-the-same” standard, the insurance company required she be given physical therapy to supposedly wean her off the oxygen. She couldn’t tolerate the PT, every session left her gasping for air and requiring more oxygen. So the insurance company refused to pay for any of her oxygen at all. She’s 93! She’ll never be able to get off her need for oxygen. Their policy would only cause her to die more quickly.
Several years ago I had to drop my insurance completely. Since I’m self-employed, the only policy I could afford had a $5000 deductible. Consequently, I was paying $350 monthly for the insurance and then paying all my own medical expenses anyway. In five years I had paid them $21,000 and, despite a couple of broken bones and a bout of asthma, I received absolutely nothing back.
So, thanks to the insurance companies, here’s what passes for health care in this country: (1) Non-medically-educated personnel deciding whether our own doctors are capable of correct diagnoses or simply arbitrarily asking for expensive treatments.
Luckily for my diabetic friend, he changed jobs and consequently insurance companies. He is using the insulin prescribed by his doctor and designed for his pump and is doing much better managing his disease. He’ll remain healthier thanks to his doctor, not his insurance company. (2) Insurance companies develop their guidelines based on averages. If your needs are outside those guidelines you’re out of luck. If you get sicker, or die, using their standards, that would seem to be your fault, not theirs.
(3) Can’t afford insurance? Soon you’ll be completely out of luck if you aren’t already. Doctors and hospitals are finding it harder and harder to treat the non-insured because of their own rising insurance costs. During the last few years I’ve been without insurance, I’ve seen my non-emergency medical costs quadruple.
Weren’t insurance companies originally supposed to help people manage their medical expenses? Wasn’t their purpose to give people a way to put aside money for unseen, and necessary, medical procedures? When did insurance turn into windfall profits for the benefit of insurance companies alone? How long will they be allowed to continue to take our money and give absolutely nothing in return? To paraphrase Mr. Schwartz’ last statement: Profit-based medical insurance is a disease masquerading as its own cure.
Jeanette Oxelson is a resident of Denver.