tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post2136264689034232763..comments2024-01-25T17:58:34.297-05:00Comments on Scott's Web Log: Should the U.S. Consider "The Health Care Choice Act"?Scott Shttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03286529314567223617noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post-31875420880038579082007-12-16T22:43:00.000-05:002007-12-16T22:43:00.000-05:00Personally, I have mixed feelings on this. Althou...Personally, I have mixed feelings on this. Although I see it as a GOP plan to claim they are doing something to address the healthcare crisis, the reality is that it does not put affordable healthcare in the hands of millions who need it. However, I do think that open markets have a mechanism that does encourage more efficiencies than the system we have today does.<BR/><BR/>In short, I do think this is worthy of an honest discussion and our elected representatives need to honestly consider the merits (and the downsides). Like anything, the devil is in the details, but thats not necessarily an endorsement of the plan.Scott Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03286529314567223617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16774010.post-19368349384286371232007-12-14T12:01:00.000-05:002007-12-14T12:01:00.000-05:00Scott,This is a trojan horse introduced ty the hea...Scott,<BR/><BR/>This is a trojan horse introduced ty the health insurance industry to get around the regulation in states that prevent abusive insurance companies and policies in their states.<BR/><BR/>I had a very bad experience in CT where the insurers own the legislature. Yes, I could get insurance not available in Massachusetts, but that was because the insurer had a long history of REFUSING TO PAY CLAIMS WITHOUT A LAWSUIT. I had first hand experience of this. The company bragged about this policy in the Wall Street Journal. They only paid 50% of the claims that I submitted which were all legitimate. They said ALL hospitals in my county did not charge "customary" charges and refused to pay them, leaving me with the bill.<BR/><BR/>Insurance in Massachusetts is more limited, but all policies must pay claims and must cover people without discriminating for previous conditions--which is one way abusive insurers avoid payment.<BR/><BR/>One Texas insurance company, for example, refused most claims with the argument that the person had had a previous condition, even if that condition was something minor discovered on admission for a stroke that the company should have covered. I documented this in one of my books for the self-employed. <BR/><BR/>DO NOT GET FOOLED. When the insurance industry says it wants to broaden coverage, they usually mean they want to get around state laws that limit practices like refusing coverage for pregnancy, imposing very long wait periods, defining preexisting conditions abusively, and refusing to pay claims arbitrarily. <BR/><BR/>Since moving to MA I've paid more for my insurance, but I have never had a single charge refused and I have never had a moment of concern that I would not get coverage because of any diagnosis for me or my family. If insurers operating in Connecticut were allowed to sell insurance in MA that would come to a dramatic and painful end.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17384082448952856117noreply@blogger.com