Stock prices of Aetna and other health insurers are up. How nice for them and their shareholders.
Meanwhile, the lowly life-forms who actually need health care abandon all hope in the health (couldn't) care (less) system:
...you need to save a whole lot of money to pay for your individual health insurance.
Once again I’m loving the conclusion of preventative health care. You need to prevent any illness that could come your way.
Just eat your vegetables, get enough sleep, watch your caloric intake, exercise and enjoy life with your families because we’re not here for long.
Wouldn't it be great if we all had comprehensive health benefits? Wouldn't it be great if we didn't have to pay rich people's prices to get them? Wouldn't it be great if Congress would pass H.R. 676?
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Well done
are there any other readers will to adopt a parasite? Wellpoint, Cigna, Hummana and the others need homes!
Adopting a parasite is personally very rewarding.
Since adopting Aetna, Inc., my life is more fulfilling than ever before. Providing a loving home for my parasite gives me a sense of purpose unlike any I’ve ever known before.
It’s so easy! There’s no approval process, no adoption fee. Don’t hesitate, enrich your life today!
Policy not party!
Small business health care plan
My husband works for a small business (~35 people) and their health insurance currently runs 15K/family because they have pre-existing conditions covered. Every year the rates go up.
A few years ago I learned of the obscene profits these companies make. His insurance company had paid out 45% of the money paid in for services, leaving 55% to cover overhead and profit. This simply wasn't enough and the rates went up an additional 25%.
They still use the same company, but the benefits have been reduced (and the cost is up).
Lately, prescription drugs have shifted to higher "tiers" and co-pays are climbing. In addition, prescribed drugs are rejected by the bean-counters and "standard-practices" must be followed before higher tier drugs are dispensed. In my case, I am under treatment for a lupus type condition which is deteriorating my kidneys and the insurance company wants me to try the "standard-practices" treatment first. I have to stay on a high dose of steroids for a year and promise not to get sick during this time as my immune system is puposely destroyed to allow my kidneys to heal. Side effects are numerous including getting diabetes. If after a year, and another kidney biopsy, the condition doesn't improve, I'll get to add the doctor recommended drug and try to stay away from sick people for another year of treatment. The cost of the drug that my doctor prescribed is about 6K per year.
My husband was on an acid reducer for a few years, but the insurance company suddendly decided that the prescribed drug was not their first choice to supply either. He had to switch to two other drugs first before he could go back on the one that worked for him. ($85/mo) In attempting to fill the prescription, his doctor had to fill out numerous paperwork certifiying that he did indeed try these other drugs and they did not work. His doctor got the OK from the insurance company. When the claim was put in by the pharmacy, it was rejected by the insurance company. The doctor had to get with the insurance company again and they said that they will not authorized the drug until it is formally rejected by them. Wha?? The pharmacy had to send the REJECT paperwork to the doctor, who then had to fax it to the insurance company who had to then authorized the drug. Now does this make any sense? I hate these guys.
Small business unhealthy carelessness plan
might be a more descriptive term. It sounds like the emotional strain alone could take years off your life.
I bet we at Corrente could collectively write an amazing litany of major and minor horrors. I've been lucky so far. My most interesting experience was watching the receptionist at my physical therapist's office actually weep with frustration at her inability to get my insurance company to come through with the authorization for my treatment. My injury, which according to "best practice" should have been treated with physical therapy within 48 hours, went untreated for three weeks while we went through the insurance dance. Though it's not really debilitating, it burns me that I will never have the full range of motion with that arm again.
Love the "will not authorize until formally rejected" trick!
Policy not party!