Posted on 09/11/2009 12:48:26 AM PDT by Sockdologer
During his speech, President Obama told two heartwrenching stories of medical patients who had had their health insurance unfairly ripped away from them with devastating consequences. The first is as follows:
One man from Illinois lost his coverage in the middle of chemotherapy because his insurer found that he hadn't reported gallstones that he didn't even know about. They delayed his treatment, and he died because of it.
This is infuriating, if true. But is it? Unless Obama is talking about a case other than that of Otto Raddatz, whose sister Peggy testified before Congress on his behalf, then, no. It isn't. On June 16, 2009, CNN wrote this about the Raddatz case:
Peggy Raddatz testified on behalf of her brother, who was diagnosed with stage four non-Hodgkin's type lymphoma. In the midst of his chemotherapy treatment, his coverage was rescinded and he was not able to receive the stem cell transplant needed to save his life.
Raddatz's brother was told his coverage was canceled for failing to disclose that, unknown to him, a doctor had once noted in his file that a CT scan showed a small aneurysm and some insignificant gallstones.
But this is not where the story ends. Indeed, according to the CNN article:
Peggy Raddatz worked with the Illinois attorney general's office and eventually was able, after two appeals, to get her brother's coverage reinstated.
But if Otto Raddatz had had his coverage reinstated, why did his sister have to testify in his behalf? Did he die, as Obama said? Well, yes, he died - three years later. Was it because of the problem with his insurance? No. Peggy Raddatz asserted that his insurance had been "reinstated without any lapse." Furthermore, according to the hearing transcript:
The company relented and Otto received his stem cell transplant. He was able to live 3 more years before passing away earlier this year.
So Obama's tale isn't exactly true. What about the other story? Here's how Obama tells it:
Another woman from Texas was about to get a double mastectomy when her insurance company cancelled her policy because she forgot to declare a case of acne. By the time she had her insurance reinstated, her breast cancer had more than doubled in size. That is heart-breaking, it is wrong, and no one should be treated that way in the United States of America.
Interestingly enough, a case identical to this one appeared CNN article. I rather suspect that it is the one Obama is talking about. Here's what it says:
Robin Beaton found out last June she had an aggressive form of breast cancer and needed surgery -- immediately. Her insurance carrier precertified her for a double mastectomy and hospital stay. But three days before the operation, the insurance company called and told her they had red-flagged her chart and she would not be able to have her surgery.
The reason? In May 2008, Beaton had visited a dermatologist for acne. A word written on her chart was interpreted to mean precancerous, so the insurance company decided to launch an investigation into her medical history.
Well, that sounds pretty bad. But CNN also says the following:
Beaton had listed her weight incorrectly. She also didn't disclose medication she had taken for a pre-existing heart condition -- medicine she wasn't taking when she originally applied for coverage.
So was Beaton's insurance really just rescinded because she had acne? No. It was rescinded because it looked like she had failed to report precancerous acne and when the insurance company launched an investigation of her medical history; they found out that she hadn't reported information about a pre-existing heart condition. According to CNN, she hadn't been taking that medication when she applied for coverage. Perhaps that is why Beaton was able to, with help from her representative, have her care reinstated.
In any case, it is important to note that both patients had their problems resolved in the Status Quo. And in the Status Quo, if someone has a problem with their insurance company, they can go to the government for help. But let's say the government is your insurance company. What is your recourse if it wrongs you? Where does a patient go then?
I think that if they had been covered by ObamaCare, they would have both received “accelerated” End of Life counseling. BO is a liar.
I think you are absolutely right.
Thank you! I’m glad Joe Wilson was elected. Nice to see some truth in Washington.
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Did anyone REALLY believe there wasn’t more to these stories?
http://www.truthaboutdeception.com/confront_a_liar/public/compulsive_lying.html
Thanks for reading.
Sure ;) You’ll find those people at DU.
That might explain why he lied about these cases, rather than using real stories. I am sure he could have found some.
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