California Health Insurers Must Reinstate Policies

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Cgnzpqru of NH 6:03AM July 14, 2009

It would seem that if all the people who are maligning health care insurance companies should invest in stock in these insurance companies and make a bundle of money. I am sorry but there is so much fraud on the part of people who want something for nothing and medical providers who overcharge and commint fraud. I see ads every day like the companies who promise they will deliver an electric cart and not to worry becuase if they cannnot get an insurance company to pay for it they will give it to you for nothing. And, then there are the ambulance chasers who pander to the shady side of many who also run the costs up. If anyone thinks that health insurance is so lucrative he/she should start his/her own company. Or, let the government pay for it. These people don't know they are the government. Unless, of course, they cheat on their taxes too and expect honest people to pick up the tab. We now have three U.S. Senators who have had ample opportunity to fix the problem. Let's see the fixes that any one of them has made. Zilch! Nada! But, they can speak against the "government," conveniently forrgetting that they have been running the "government."

Jim Irving of MO 3:51PM April 21, 2008

I though Sen McCain was an honorable man. NO MORE. All he wants to do is destroy group health coverage, which cannot be denied for existing conditions, so the companies do not have to pay.
And when you look at the cost of medical insurance, the $2500 credit is like nothing. When I retired at 57, one of my options was converting my group health insurance to private, for which they wanted $30,000 per year.
And now at 68, my health insurance under medicare costs me $3400/year, and only because the govt subsidizes the hospital portion almost totally.
So McCain is just another tool of the super-rich, who would destroy the middle class for the profits of big business which has bought lock, stock and barrel the republican party.
Sorry, McCain, not a chance. You appear to just be a part of the Republican party which whose god is named Greed. And to think I voted for them all my life until I saw through GWB. One would also think Mr. McCain, that given what you endured in North Vietnam for years and years as a prisoner, you would stand up against gthe republican party and the idiotic criminal war based on mis-information and lies, thanks to GWB. What's the matter - the money from the military industrial complex to your party has corrupted you also?

SteveMD2 of MD 12:45AM April 21, 2008

My coverage was canceled by one company. None would extend coverage. I went on a Colorado state covered plan for 6 months. Nothing was wrong. I had responded honestly. The denying company interpreted some test as an omission on my part.
Six months later, I faxed all the papers from the hospital to another national insurance company which has provided coverage for 4 years.
First the scare of being "not covered" is overwhelming, second, the outrage of being told you are lying angers you, last, the time and expense to go through the search for someone to provide coverage is stressful.
We should be thriving for a better system, and we are.

rr of CO 12:15AM April 21, 2008

National Health Care for everyone is better than nothing at all. Millions of people are uninsured. The millions wind up in overcrowded Emergency Rooms receiving urgent care in lieu of preventive care. Guess who picks up the tab? We all do. So why not do the right thing to begin with? Prevent the child from having asthma with National Healthcare in lieu of the asthma attack that may lead to death.
I know this as I am a nurse.

Geraldine Carbone of NY 11:37PM April 20, 2008

We cannot isolate ourselves and say those who are rich enough or healthy enough can take care of themselves and the rest be darned. There is no one among us who can expect to live free of any accidents, epidemics or birth deformities except with phenomenol good luck. We are all dependent upon living in a generally healthy population for our own good health -- or haven't you traveled by air recently or slept in a motel bed? What if you have a family member with Alzheimer's who lives for 15 years or a child with MS or a wife with long-term cancer? Aren't we all better off for keeping the family that is facing such astronomical problems at least covered for their medical bills? Or should we just dump the unhealthy and weak among us and when that doesn't cut costs enough, we'll look into DNA tests and dump those who have the possiblity of future diseases, and ...
WE need universal, single payer health care for preventive, basic and catastrophic medical care. It would prove a huge boost to the nation economically in savings on lost work-time, spread of diseases, lack of preventive care, etc. Our hospitals and health centers must become non-profit again and rededicated to human dignity and health. If all the other major countries can do it, what's wrong with the U.S.? Greed, lack of compassion and stupidity. Let's quit warring around the globe and use that money to provide health care -- not elective care like botox treatments, but any care that keeps us healthy physically and mentally. If every citizen paid $1000 a year for a health care card, we could cover basic and catastrophic care.

Spence of AK 10:50PM April 20, 2008

Well, we all know that US health care is all messed up. Either the health insurance industry needs to be regulated or nationalized.

RoseTee of 9:05PM April 20, 2008

Have not yet seen any comments on the health care provided for government workers including politicians that hold office. All the military get health care provided by the government. Medicare is a form of national health care. Our family has seen premiums for two adults climb to $17000 per year. Self insured companies can deny claims anytime they do not want to pay a claim. They do not come under the state insurance bureau laws. Personally have had this happen twice with self insured companies providing policies to employees. I feel that if tax payers can afford to provide health care to politicians, then we should at least get the same health care access to us.

Gerald of MI 1:37PM April 20, 2008

I come from 2 angles . 1. being able to buy coverage (bcbs) until the premiums hit 1,900 a month for family of 7. Children 4 & 5 essentially free ... 2. Myself having 1 lung and asthma since day 2 of life . Because of that last factor , I have always taken only the very best care of myself , because I learned very young , that life can be very short , or long . Living long , very ill is worse than death . Now that the kids are grown , we know longer care to have premium coverage , due to the fact that it's no longer a need , and we don't care to live until the machine is turned OFF . There isn't a person alive , worth the millions it costs to keep their heart beating , when there are healthy , active people who are able to live productive , happy lives . But at the same time , can't afford basic medical care ... We now keep a policy with a 5,800 deductible and we will only use this for catastrophic occur.. Our premiums have gone up ,, NOT because of OUR health ,, but because we pay for morbid obesity , damage done by smokers be it first hand or second , and those who just don't give a damn about themselves or anyone else . If you deem your self worthy of such medical care ,,, YOU had better be able to afford it YOURSELF !! Otherwise , LIVE till you die !! THAT is how nature intended .

A Full Planet of MN 2:56PM April 19, 2008

The only impressive idea here is that it's totally screwed up to gum up the entire economy by tying health care to a job. People cannot change jobs or strike out on their own to expand the economy because insurance is tied to a stupid job.
Ultimately the employee pays anyway. Wages are simply lowered to accommodate the cost of coverage. Having businesses pay for coverage simply hides the cost. Hiding costs in the health-care market and preventing movement in the job market harms both.
I've not bought into government health care kool-aid (because government can't seem to do anything well anywhere ever) but it does seem that we cannot have a workable market until we even the playing field. Markets are all about legal frameworks providing competition along acceptable lines.
I would like to see a market where everyone is required to be self-insured and where insurers compete with price/benefits packages they offer to all. They should not be allowed to either deny or drop customers -- nor vary rates beyond a reasonable healthy-lifestyle incentive. In such a market, the cost of health insurance would be approximately the average cost of health care provided.
Such a system would keep costs explicit, and provide some level of choice between varying insurance packages.

chad of CA 12:59AM April 19, 2008