Comments on: My insurance won’t pay for the doctor I want

By: Logan from Loganville

Logan from Loganville — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 21:13:17 +0000

DUH–Obviously–Have you colored all the pages in your book?

By: TammyR

TammyR — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 00:53:12 +0000

I had the same experience. I was referred to a surgeon, only to find out he wasn’t in my Aetna network. I asked my doctor for another surgeon’s name and he was in my network and I was very satisfied. However, I used to have BC/BS and the options were better as far as physicians on the plan. I do wish this could be improved. I also wish the pre-existing condition would be removed. I think these things can be improved without a public option. Also, both of these would make individual plans more readily available to the uninsured. I don’t think you can force people to get insurance. Some people aren’t going to pay for it, period.

By: SmartRemarks » Uncertainty, Obama, and the nagging voice of cynicism

SmartRemarks » Uncertainty, Obama, and the nagging voice of cynicism — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 19:42:29 +0000

[...] grasp that the system is broken, quite possibly because they genuinely don’t even understand how it works. Such “low information voters” (however sincere) can easily be swayed by [...]

By: Carl Benson

Carl Benson — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 05:08:04 +0000

I’m one of those “racists” that is adamantly opposed to Obamacare. However, before you and the President as well as other misinformed leftists began calling us racist, terrorist, radical, etc., I thought I was just another concerned citizen.
Guess you know better than I.
C. B.

By: AK

AK — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 14:00:07 +0000

It’s amazing that so few people get it. Democrat or Republican, Conservative or Liberal, Nationalized healthcare is not the right option for this country nor any country. I’ll break it down for you:

1) We can’t afford it and neither can our grandchildren (stimulus + bailout + nationalized healthcare = worst deficit in history with no future hopes of repayment)
2) The government does not know how to run a business. It means more red tape, more costs, worse service/quality, little to no investment in future growth and improvement. For a track record of current run government programs, see: Medicare, Social Security, VA Hospital, etc. 2 of the 3 are nearly bankrupt.
3) Nationalized healthcare does not work anywhere else in the world, so why would it work here? People flock to the US from Canada and the UK just to partake in our healthcare system.
4) If private insurance is out of the game, then the motivation to cure disease and invest in groundbrekaing research and new technologies will grind to a halt. Who’s going to do it? Once the profit motive has been removed, then that’s it.
5) Destroying an entire system to satisfy 15% of the population (most of which are either illegal or choose not to have health insurance) is not right. 85% of Americans are satisfied with their health coverage. It’s not perfect and certainly needs reform but not by adding more government regulation and oversight.
6) Private health insurance will be destroyed. That is an absolute fact. No company that is in business to make a profit can compete with the goverment that can operate indefinitely at a loss as well as regulate the industry that they are now competing in!
7) This new healtcare plan does not address how we are going to contain rising costs in the future. It does not address torte reform, which is why doctors are forced to charge you more for their services, because they pay hundreds of thousands of dollars a year in malpractice insurance.

Please research the facts so you can make your own educated decision on this. Just because you voted for Obama (as I did) does not mean you have to ride the dying horse of ‘Nationalized Healthcare’ through to the finish line.

By: Just because

Just because — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 03:52:40 +0000

Mario, I don’t believe I said getting up and going to work gives you health care benefits . . . I was discussing SF’s reference to leveling the playing field. Now whose the idiot Mario? You obviously can’t follow a simply comment . . or did I just hit a nerve with you! Bless your heart you are probably one those folks with both hands held out waiting for the government to do everything for you or maybe you are just one those folks who can’t get up and go to work.

By: Mario

Mario — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:13:19 +0000

Just because you’re stupid you are simply stupid! Idiots always find an easy and simplistic way to understand anything! Play race, affirmative action, liberal and socialist stuff, and that the culmination of their sharp and idiotic minds! But life isn’t fair isn’t it? Getting up and going to work doesn’t give you healthcare benefits brain damaged conservative! READ MORE BOOKS AND GET AN EDUCATION BEFORE YOU PRINT YOUR STUPID IDEAS!

By: c note

c note — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 14:31:03 +0000

On February 7, 2008 my one and only son Clinton died from an undiagnoised heart defect at the tender age of 17 years old. For over a year my son had suffered strange seizures. We took him to several doctors only to be told that all his tests came back normal. Finally our doctor suggested sending him to a special clinic at Emory. My insurance provider, also AETNA, denied my son treatment from the specalized clinic that was recommended by his doctor. We decided to pay for the treatment out of our pockets and scheduled his appointment shortly after the denial. Unfortunately on the week he was to see the new doctors he died in his sleep. Had he been allowed to go the clinic where a cardiologist was on duty earlier maybe his heart problem could have been corrected. We will never know but what we do know is that insurance companies control your treatment not your doctors and you can very well go bankrupt trying to stay healthy. Even with our insurance we still had so many bills from Clinton’s tests that it almost took us down.

Our country ranks 37th in the world when it comes to health care…that should not be the case. We need to make sure that a system is in place to prevent stories like mine from happening in one of the riches countries on the planet. Sadly I am not alone. Since writing about my son’s death I have been contacted by hundreds of people with similar stories.

Educate yourself and watch the movie Sicko by Michael Moore. I was not a fan of his before I saw the movie…frankly I thought he was a bit crazy…but I really appreciate him for bringing to light the big differences between our medical system and the systems of several other countries in his movie. Watch it and see for yourself just what our health care system is all about.

God bless,

By: Sandy

Sandy — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 01:45:16 +0000

Sure you can go out of network but the deductible is considerably higher (there are separate deductible for in-network and out-of-network) and the reimbursement will be less. For in-network your share is generally 20% of the negotiated rate but for out-of-network it’s generally 40% of the “usual, reasonable, and customary” rate. Remember that these rates at established by a group named Igenex, which is a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group. They paid a $50 million fine for underpaying millions of people for out-of-network claims.

Also, many times people need to change doctors because the company switches health insurers or the doctor doesn’t renew the contract with the insurer.

By: Just because

Just because — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 00:00:13 +0000

SF . . . that wouldn’t make everyone on the same playing field . . . you’re not so smart. There still would be some people with more money than others and how are whites on the same playing field with minorities when they have an edge with affirmative action, etc. How about the atheletes who are paid mega bucks! Oh, least we should forget the unions who are know for their benefit-fill health insurance coverage. What you need to learn (as does the democrats) . . . life isn’t fair; some people don’t have the motivation to get up and go to work everyday; some people do! Get over it!!!