Karen George is in extreme pain, taking "daily doses of Klonopin, Flexeril, and Lortab", but Aetna won't cover surgery to correct her disconnected jawbone, because it is "cosmetic".

Now that I have your attention, I want to change the subject from bashing Aetna. It's not clear what organization profits from denying Karen George relief from pain, repeated minor surgeries, and an obstructed airway. (The linked article suggests that if she had a standard health plan instead of ERISA-exempt employer self-insurance merely administered by Aetna, she might be entitled by law to coverage.)

The point is not the evilness of the people running Aetna, who are charged with making money for their stockholders, or the evilness of Karen George's employer, whoever that is. The point is the stupidity of a system where people can't afford to pay directly for the health care that would make their lives tolerable (and, by the way, economically productive), and the only insurance available to them is provided by organizations that have every incentive to deny them care.

Every bureacracy is imperfect, but there's a huge difference between one like Aetna, with a primary duty to turn a profit, and one like Medicare whose primary duty is to pay for care. If Congress would pass H.R. 676, our care would no longer take second place to someone else's profit.

Adopt your very own corporate parasite today! It's fun! It's rewarding! It's tastier than Palin Palin Palin Palin!