Comments on: This Time It’s Personal http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/ Home of the jester in the court of the ragtag soldiers, where God's not dead and neither are we. Tue, 22 May 2012 02:09:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: TSJ http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1258 TSJ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:19:16 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1258 I was too tired last night to leave a longer comment, but I feel like coming back once more. Jerry, those "easily accessible channels" you refer to might be easily accessible to begin with, but they are often outright hostile to the patient and much too lenient with the insurer. Multiple appeals have to be filed with one's medical group (which, frankly, shouldn't even exist), and then with the insurer when the med-group appeals are exhausted. All of this before anything can be filed at the state level with those "easily accessible channels". Then their appeals take months and months, sometimes years to resolve, and all the while the patient's medical condition could be deteriorating. Insurers and medical groups have legions of lawyers on their side who, if nothing else, will file continuances until the cows come home. The idea that insurers are "not allowed to be evil" is naive in the extreme; everything -- and I mean EVERYTHING -- in the process is leveraged in the corporations' favor. The only way we got our son's insurance issues resolved was to contact our local legislators (Calif. Assemblyman Bill McClintock and State Sen. Bob Dutton), both of whom intervened on our behalf and essentially ordered the medical group and insurer to cover our son's wheelchair and physical therapy (that's right, they also denied PT to a kid whose leg muscles were so tense he couldn't straighten them out). Something has to be done to straighten out the current situation, and if it takes a socialist-style national health care plan to make it work, then so be it. I'm sure you're already realizing that the bulk of American citizens support such a program, despite all the babble, hatred and lies coming out of Washington. I was too tired last night to leave a longer comment, but I feel like coming back once more. Jerry, those “easily accessible channels” you refer to might be easily accessible to begin with, but they are often outright hostile to the patient and much too lenient with the insurer. Multiple appeals have to be filed with one’s medical group (which, frankly, shouldn’t even exist), and then with the insurer when the med-group appeals are exhausted. All of this before anything can be filed at the state level with those “easily accessible channels”. Then their appeals take months and months, sometimes years to resolve, and all the while the patient’s medical condition could be deteriorating. Insurers and medical groups have legions of lawyers on their side who, if nothing else, will file continuances until the cows come home. The idea that insurers are “not allowed to be evil” is naive in the extreme; everything — and I mean EVERYTHING — in the process is leveraged in the corporations’ favor.

The only way we got our son’s insurance issues resolved was to contact our local legislators (Calif. Assemblyman Bill McClintock and State Sen. Bob Dutton), both of whom intervened on our behalf and essentially ordered the medical group and insurer to cover our son’s wheelchair and physical therapy (that’s right, they also denied PT to a kid whose leg muscles were so tense he couldn’t straighten them out). Something has to be done to straighten out the current situation, and if it takes a socialist-style national health care plan to make it work, then so be it. I’m sure you’re already realizing that the bulk of American citizens support such a program, despite all the babble, hatred and lies coming out of Washington.

]]> By: Ron E http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1257 Ron E Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:44:09 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1257 Its too bad there can't be honest dialogue rather than diatribe. That's the worst thing about religion and politics. Sad. And I disagree too, Jerry, and for me its personal too, but I'm not weighing in :) Its too bad there can’t be honest dialogue rather than diatribe.
That’s the worst thing about religion and politics.
Sad.
And I disagree too, Jerry, and for me its personal too, but I’m not weighing in :)

]]> By: TSJ http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1256 TSJ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:19:25 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1256 Spoken like someone who's never been told by some multi-million-dollar company that their child doesn't qualify for a wheelchair,even though he can't walk and never will... Spoken like someone who’s never been told by some multi-million-dollar company that their child doesn’t qualify for a wheelchair,even though he can’t walk and never will…

]]> By: John Lodge http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1253 John Lodge Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:40:48 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1253 TSJ's really dropped the ball on this one IMO. He sounds like my Socialist "friend" (we once were friends) who believes the DOI "proves" that since we're all "entitled" to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" (whatever "happiness" actually means is perhaps a subject for another debate), therefore Socialism's aim for "universal health care" is just. Nonsense. The DOI guarantees us all an opportunity for these things, not a guaranteed outcome. I hope he and TSJ remember these things when it's their head on the proverbial chopping block of life-or-death healthcare. TSJ’s really dropped the ball on this one IMO. He sounds like my Socialist “friend” (we once were friends) who believes the DOI “proves” that since we’re all “entitled” to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” (whatever “happiness” actually means is perhaps a subject for another debate), therefore Socialism’s aim for “universal health care” is just. Nonsense. The DOI guarantees us all an opportunity for these things, not a guaranteed outcome. I hope he and TSJ remember these things when it’s their head on the proverbial chopping block of life-or-death healthcare.

]]> By: Jerry Wilson http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1251 Jerry Wilson Mon, 09 Nov 2009 16:32:55 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1251 I'll chime in on this one, stating from the get-go I work for an insurance provider. Not health insurance, but the industry mechanisms and practices are the same. I utterly reject the "evil insurance companies" meme. Insurance companies are, by law, not allowed to be evil. Whether it's medical, life or property (auto/home), the stringent regulations levied against all insurance providers at the federal and state level prohibits illegal and unethical behavior. Should such behavior take place, there are easily accessible channels for consumers to file complaints. Where both sides of the aisle have failed is in not addressing the matter as an insurance issue in the same fashion the government at federal and in some instances state level have addressed insurance needs beyond the scope of private insurers. As I outlined back in <a href="http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/09/18/assorted-musings-on-the-healthcare-debate/" rel="nofollow">September</a>, the proper approach is the government acting as reinsurer for when medical costs exceed levels beyond what private insurers can reasonably carry. Instead, we have a guaranteed bloated bureaucracy coming. How does that serve anyone? I’ll chime in on this one, stating from the get-go I work for an insurance provider. Not health insurance, but the industry mechanisms and practices are the same.

I utterly reject the “evil insurance companies” meme. Insurance companies are, by law, not allowed to be evil. Whether it’s medical, life or property (auto/home), the stringent regulations levied against all insurance providers at the federal and state level prohibits illegal and unethical behavior. Should such behavior take place, there are easily accessible channels for consumers to file complaints.

Where both sides of the aisle have failed is in not addressing the matter as an insurance issue in the same fashion the government at federal and in some instances state level have addressed insurance needs beyond the scope of private insurers. As I outlined back in September, the proper approach is the government acting as reinsurer for when medical costs exceed levels beyond what private insurers can reasonably carry. Instead, we have a guaranteed bloated bureaucracy coming. How does that serve anyone?

]]> By: TSJ http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1250 TSJ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:15:39 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1250 I find the comment about "hopeless self-centeredness" to be almost hilarious. Sorry, but the self-centered ones are the Republicans who refuse to help anyone but themselves. And, of course, the insurers who will do anything, up to and including pronouncing death sentences on patients, in order to protect their bottom line. As usual, the Christ in American Christianity only extends to the seam of their wallets. I find the comment about “hopeless self-centeredness” to be almost hilarious. Sorry, but the self-centered ones are the Republicans who refuse to help anyone but themselves. And, of course, the insurers who will do anything, up to and including pronouncing death sentences on patients, in order to protect their bottom line. As usual, the Christ in American Christianity only extends to the seam of their wallets.

]]> By: 2nihon http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1249 2nihon Mon, 09 Nov 2009 08:41:59 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1249 This nation has the best health care in the world--if you can afford it, and that's the trick. If insurance was simply regulated, it would save us trillions of dollars and not lead to this monstrosity. It's sad that so many people genuinely refuse to wake to what should be the obvious and instead cling to the tired and disingenous 'hope-'n-change' monologue. In wanting to genuinely help people, you are empowering bad people to enact deceptive legislation that will hurt many more people than it helps. Claiming that you want to help people, you are exposing your hopeless self-centeredness that brought this entire regime into power. If you really care about people, you will care about the ENTIRE POPULATION and listen to both sides, not just the so-called needy. Try putting down your hope-'n-change stick with which you beat down dissenters and instead listen to what we have to say. You just might find, even if you don't like all of us...that we have a valid point. This nation has the best health care in the world–if you can afford it, and that’s the trick. If insurance was simply regulated, it would save us trillions of dollars and not lead to this monstrosity. It’s sad that so many people genuinely refuse to wake to what should be the obvious and instead cling to the tired and disingenous ‘hope-’n-change’ monologue. In wanting to genuinely help people, you are empowering bad people to enact deceptive legislation that will hurt many more people than it helps. Claiming that you want to help people, you are exposing your hopeless self-centeredness that brought this entire regime into power. If you really care about people, you will care about the ENTIRE POPULATION and listen to both sides, not just the so-called needy. Try putting down your hope-’n-change stick with which you beat down dissenters and instead listen to what we have to say. You just might find, even if you don’t like all of us…that we have a valid point.

]]> By: TSJ http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1248 TSJ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:58:12 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1248 Couldn't disagree with you more on this one, Jerry. It sounds like you've bought into the GOP paranoia stream about people being left to die because they're just not convenient anymore. Fact is, that's precisely what the current system does. If some mega-million-dollar insurance corporation decides your health issues are costing them too much money, you're left to die. Period. The United States is the ONLY industrialized nation in the WORLD that forces people into bankruptcy over medical bills, all the while permitting medical groups to charge thousands more than necessary for basic care, and permitting pharmaceutical companies to jack up prices more than 5,000% for maximum profit because they know people will suffer or die without their products. I believe that America should either provide proper care for every citizen, or permit its citizens to begin acting with extreme violence against the corporations who kill for profit. The current insurance scam in the U.S. is purest evil and must be rectified. Couldn’t disagree with you more on this one, Jerry. It sounds like you’ve bought into the GOP paranoia stream about people being left to die because they’re just not convenient anymore. Fact is, that’s precisely what the current system does. If some mega-million-dollar insurance corporation decides your health issues are costing them too much money, you’re left to die. Period. The United States is the ONLY industrialized nation in the WORLD that forces people into bankruptcy over medical bills, all the while permitting medical groups to charge thousands more than necessary for basic care, and permitting pharmaceutical companies to jack up prices more than 5,000% for maximum profit because they know people will suffer or die without their products. I believe that America should either provide proper care for every citizen, or permit its citizens to begin acting with extreme violence against the corporations who kill for profit. The current insurance scam in the U.S. is purest evil and must be rectified.

]]> By: Tweets that mention This Time It’s Personal - Goldfish And Clowns -- Topsy.com http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/2009/11/08/this-time-its-personal/comment-page-1/#comment-1247 Tweets that mention This Time It’s Personal - Goldfish And Clowns -- Topsy.com Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:47:08 +0000 http://www.goldfishandclowns.com/?p=2487#comment-1247 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jerry Wilson, tanmany2k. tanmany2k said: RT @Jerry_Wilson: Why the health care bill is a personal issue http://tinyurl.com/y8vtskv #tcot #sgp #hhrs [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jerry Wilson, tanmany2k. tanmany2k said: RT @Jerry_Wilson: Why the health care bill is a personal issue http://tinyurl.com/y8vtskv #tcot #sgp #hhrs [...]

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