Why not print up your own M.D. or D.O. from the Internet and treat your own illness? http://www.nd-center.com
Sounds like extortion to threaten them with slander in a film. Lengthy lawsuit and negative press campaign or comped services.
The only part of this I don’t like is the possibility of getting used in a Michael Moore book/film. Other than that I’m all about publicity.
Capitalism only works in a transparent medium. The media is supposed to give us fair information we can use to make our free-market choices. TOo bad most of them are just leftie hacks.
I bet there is a lot more to this story. Perhaps this family did not appeal the original denial and instead jumped on the Michael Moore bandwagon threatening bad press. Once the CEO got involved, it was probably reviewed properly then approved. Not sure. And I am not about to go to his website to check it out.
My personal health care plan is:
Suck it up, don’t be a big crying baby. Try to eat right, live healthy, and when things get bad enough, go to the E.R. Try and throw them some money when you can.
I currently have about $35,000 in medical bills. The hospital, the heart care people, the radiology people, they get what I can afford to give them.
You know, I do not like Michael Moore, but sending him horror stories about our medical insurance problems might just get the bureaucrats to take another look at the “denials” of medical care reimbursements.
I have numerous horror stories about the DOD run Tricare system, (especially as it pertains to retirees living overseas) and have been fighting constantly with their contractor, Wisconsin Physician Services, whose responsibility is to process all overseas tricare claims. Claims are “lost”, reimbursements are denied or only 50% is allowed (unfairly, or because the claims processors use the wrong CPT codes and refuse to admit they made a mistake) and the wait for reimbursement is 6-8 months.
This situation is a travesty and needs a congressional investigation, but none of the Senators or Congressmen have been willing to look into it even though numerous retirees have written to their Congressmen/Senators.
yikes! Freepers getting on the socialized medicine bandwagon. Congress “waking up” to our healthcare situation is a large part of why there is a “problem” now. EVERY system will have holes. EVERY system will have needs unmet. Lots of them. There are a lot of Americans who are more comfortable with some government bureaucrat being the one to blame, rather than an employee of some CORPORATION. Resources are limited, wants and desires are unlimited. We could legislate “compassion” and redistribute resources from now to eternity, and there would still be children who wouldn’t get the most modern whatever. TANSTAAFL.
I’m not sure how I feel about this.
I had a long conversation with my doc about insurance on my last visit. I asked about the “contractural rate” that shows up on my description of benefits and why it’s so low. He explained to me that docs and hospitals “contract” with the insurance companies in a way that says “okay, we expect to see X # of patients with your insurance, so give us a price that you will pay for the office visit” so the insurance company says okay if you meet this quota, we’ll pay X for that level of service.
Turns out “X” is a much lower rate than cash pay, but it’s “guaranteed payment” and that’s why the docs and hospitals do it. My doc said in the first year of his practice, he saw people on a cash basis and had $650,000 in write offs at the end of the year for no pays so he’d rather “contract” and know he’ll get paid.
So, that explains my $18000 hospital bill that was “contracted” down to $6000 from the insurance company and another $2000 from me - along with the $6500 we pay every year for the premium. THEN, I had a severe asthma attack again and my doc ordered me a nebulizer through the closest medical supply co. 10 miles away (I live in a very rural area). I go pick it up and the insurance denied coverage because I didn’t use their mail order service or go to a medical supply they are contracted with - so I paid the $91 and called them to get instructions on submitting a claim. They told me it would go toward my “non-network” deductible.... unbelievable!
Yes, something is VERY WRONG with our healthcare system, especially when we pay these ever increasing premiums and then find out at the end of the year the gross profits the insurance company made for the year.
My job is now offering an HSA... problem is, the premium is still $300/mo, plus full price for all medications, doctors visits, etc. up to $2500 before the insurance kicks in.... who the hell can afford that?
We’re all being taxed to death all to pay for the illegals and special interests of the insane liberals and the deadbeats who refuse to even try to work or take care of themselves. Welfare (medicaid/medicare) for the elderly or disabled is fine, but for all these others who can’t keep their legs closed or get off their fat lazy butts to go to work needs to stop NOW. I’m just sick of it. I don’t want universal coverage by any means, but something has got to give in the healthcare industry. Whether it’s the docs or the insurance co, I don’t know, I only know it isn’t working.
Okay, I’m done ranting now..... :-)
I saw the big putz on Leno last night call for universal [aka Socialized] health care. The audience applause sounded overwhelming. We should worry.