I got a notice from the home insurance company that covers a rental home my wife and I own. They said that they were canceling the policy because we now had a swimming pool on the property. I called and told them no renter had asked me to pay to put a pool at the house and what were they talking about? They hummed and hawed and sort of, kind of admitted perhaps their agent had checked the wrong home. They will check again they said. I couldn't even blame the government for this stupidity, this is a private insurance company hard at work showing us how well the private sector operates. Here's another, more grievous example from the Huffington Post. Remember: I don't for one minute believe that that Big Pharma is spending a million and a half dollars a day lobbying Congress against the public option because it is in the best interests of We The People. Nor should you. Of course one has to wonder what tort reform will do in cases like these. Texas has reformed tort laws to no visible effect on the cost of medical insurance.
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The South Carolina Supreme Court has ordered an insurance company to pay $10 million for wrongly revoking the insurance policy of a 17-year-old college student after he tested positive for HIV. The court called the 2002 decision by the insurance company "reprehensible."That appears to be the most an insurance company has ever been ordered to pay in a case involving the practice known as rescission, in which insurance companies retroactively cancel coverage for policyholders based on alleged misstatements - sometimes right after diagnoses of life-threatening diseases.
The ruling emerges from a conservative Southern state with one of the most pro-business climates in the country. And it comes as progressive Democrats on Capitol Hill are pressing for health care reforms, such as a public insurance option, that reflect wariness about the private insurance industry's motives.
The Supreme Court on Monday upheld a lower court's verdict against Fortis Insurance, now known as Assurant. The trial jury had awarded the former college student, Jerome Mitchell, $15 million in punitive damages; the Supreme Court reduced that amount by $5 million.
Mitchell learned that he had HIV when, while heading to college, he donated blood. Fortis then rescinded his coverage, citing what turned out to be an erroneous note from a nurse in his medical records that indicated that he might have been diagnosed prior to his obtaining his insurance policy.
Before the cancellation of the policy, an underwriter working for Fortis wrote to a committee considering whether or not to rescind his policy: "Technically, we do not have the results of the HIV tests. This is the only entry in the medical records regarding HIV status. Is it sufficient?" The underwriter's concerns were ignored and the rescission went forward.
Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/17/insurance-company-must-pa_n_289841.html
3 comments:
Dear Conch:
C'mon. Do you really think an insurance company would act like this?
(I just wrote that to make your blood boil.)
In my estimation, the CEO of this company should have earned some jail time.
Fondest regards.
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
The fact is Jack that we do need change and the Republican Party has become, not the heirs of Barry Goldwater or Richard Nixon (yes a crook, but still a signatory to Great Society legislation) but a bunch of know nothing shills for Big Business. President Obama's biggest mistake is in trying to teach the pigs to sing the reform song; it's enraging them and not getting the job of reform done.
From my King James Bible (the most sonorous version of the story) the gospel according to St Mathew, Chapter 20 Verse 21: " Jesus said unto him: If thou will be perfect go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me." Doesn't say anything about hoarding gold as a sign of heavenly approval. Yet we don't see much sign of that sort of behavior do we from the self proclaimed Christian masses? Not even to paying to help our brothers and sisters get affordable reliable health insurance. I'm all for us living a life of cxhristian piety: adultery? stone 'em to death. Divorce? Hell no. Forgive your neighbor secven times seventy times when he pisses you off. My favoritre GK Chesterton quotation: It's not that Christianity has been tried and found wanting; rather it's been found difficult and not tried.
Dear Conch:
Don't be so fast with the rocks when it comes to adultery. I can't run like I used to. And divorce is better than manslaughter... Trust me on this one.
I would be delighted to pay the $1100 a month like I was being charged for health care insurance (for my daughter and myself -- no dental), in 1998, provided: a) I am still employed and making the money; b) my arthritis is not judged to be a pre-existing condition, entitling me to get dropped by the side of the road.
But that doesn't help the folks who don't have an extra $1100 a month to spend. And I may be one of them any time now, through no fault of my own. So I'd like to see insurance companies rechartered as "social utilities," with a broad assigned-risk pool, with a payment and investment program (set by legislation drafted by elected officials who have not accepted campaign contributions from insurance companies), backed by government vouchers for those below certain income level/percentages.
The benefit to the insurance companies would be lower taxes, and a different tax schedule for investors wh chose to put their money in these companies knowing that it would bring a steady but limited return.
There would be no recission or purging and any company that practiced anything that could be construed as such would be subject to criminal prosecution.
Does this regulate free industry?
You bet. But the dairy industry is regulated... The airlines are regulated... And the banking industry should be regulated when Chris Dodd goes to jail. We'll learn to live with it, and get a recession proof investment opportunity in companies that will pay better interest than savings accounts.
Should illegal aliens qualify for healthcare benefits?
For emergency care -- anybody should qualify. But until the country is back on its feet again, steady regular healthcare benefits should apply directly to US citizens.
Should hospital services be reviewed for pricing reform?
Eventualy, but not as part of this bill.
Does a federal electronic ID system have to be part of this bill?
Absolutely not.
Would the plan have to cover abortions and elective cosmetic surgey?
In the case of rape victims and incest, where minors are concerned, or in the case of adults who do not want to come to term as a result of rape -- absolutely.
For the incidental pregnancy, abolutely not. Nobody in their right mind uses abortion as birth control. But this would be subject to negotiation.
Regarding face lifts, ass lifts, testicle tucks, the reduction of bingo wings, and stomach stapling -- absolutely not.
How would this be paid for?
With a reasonable premium -- Fat people, smokers and other should expect to pay more.
The indigent, unemployed, and destitute would be covered by a guaranteed government voucher program that would pay in 72 hours.
Insurance fraud would almost always result in a jail term.
That's how I see it. And if that doesn't work or something like it can't be developed... Then fuck it. Go with a 100% government plan and put the assholes out of business. The nation shouldn't be held hostage... By anyone. Yet I still do not belief the federal government can run a business. And now, business can't run a business either. In the long run, I think the social utility concept will work best.
I think the dialogue you are looking for has started though.
My question is, "How is it all these prople get riled up over something like this, but the question of their privacy or their right to remain private is above them?" The stupidity level of the average American is frightening.
But understand, there is a limit to my patience. I think this process could easily take a year. But if no progress has been made at the end of that time, it will be time for drastic action.
Your overweight, gimpy pal in Pa,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
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