3 ms·
Yes - there’s always some risk of theft, extortion, etc. but this case resonated so strongly because so many Americans have had life-altering insurance denials.
by acdha 2y ago
Yes - there’s always some risk of theft, extortion, etc. but this case resonated so strongly because so many Americans have had life-altering insurance denials. One survey I saw had it at 13% of the population saying they knew someone who died because of a denial:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/268094/millions-lost-someone-couldn-afford-treatment.aspx https://news.gallup.com/poll/268094/millions-lost-someone-co...
Whether or not you think that’s fair, that’s a huge number of people with the basis for a serious grudge. Since we’ve made it easier to get guns than healthcare, I’d expect copycats - especially after people see how much it struck a nerve.
- reverendsteveii 2y ago13% + 1 They didn't cover my grandmother's mammogram They didn't cover her chemo They didn't cover the pain and anxiety meds for her palliative care She died of cancer over the course of two years. Insurance made sure that she couldn't detect it early, treat it, or manage her pain and terror. As far as I'm concerned, they caused her death directly and made it as horrible as possible.
- CryptoBanker 2y ago> They didn't cover her chemo How does that happen? AFAIK the ACA mandates coverage for cancer treatment for almost all plans.
- clipsy 2y agoThe government can mandate anything it wants, if insurance companies are allowed to perpetrate mass fraudulent denials then it simply doesn't matter.
- deleted 2y ago[deleted]
- acdha 2y agoI don’t know their situation but common tactics are to deny claims hoping that the patient will either die or find other funding options. This is an entire industry: https://www.propublica.org/article/cigna-pxdx-medical-health-insurance-rejection-claims https://www.propublica.org/article/cigna-pxdx-medical-health... https://www.propublica.org/article/evicore-health-insurance-denials-cigna-unitedhealthcare-aetna-prior-authorizations https://www.propublica.org/article/evicore-health-insurance-... This is one example of how hard it can be to fight these fraudulent denials, even for someone with above average resources: https://www.propublica.org/article/priority-health-michigan-cart-insurance-vanpatten-denials https://www.propublica.org/article/priority-health-michigan-... Individuals can’t fix these problems at scale: it needs something like a government investigator with subpoena power and the ability to directly fine executives. As long as people make more money by denying care, they’re just going to keep finding ways to do so.
- Aloisius 2y agoJust because it mandates coverage doesn't mean it mandates any treatment be provided in every case. Certain expensive chemo drugs will get denied unless cheaper options are tried first, if they're used off-label or experimental. Some won't be approved until surgery, at too early a stage or if tests don't indicate elevated risk factors.
- JohnFen 2y agoThe plan may cover it, but that doesn't mean the insurance company won't find a way to deny the claim.
- reverendsteveii 2y agoWhat you do is you deny it over and over and give a confused old woman the run-around until she's so exhausted she decides it's literally easier to die than to continue fighting. Ask me how I know.
- dr_kiszonka 2y ago> Since we’ve made it easier to get guns than healthcare This is such a great line! On the bright side, perhaps these big companies will now start lobbying for more reasonable gun laws.
- neverartful 2y agoIn the case of United Healthcare's CEO the murderer could have just have easily used a knife. When someone is really intent on killing you, guns are not their only option.
- acdha 2y agoNo, but it makes it much, much easier to do so successfully.