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HEALTH INSURANCE CASUALTY OF THE DAY: Leslie Elder - West Palm Beach, FL - 10/02/2008

Posted by Colette Washing... on October 1, 2008 - 4:27pm

ps_lesie_elder

Leslie Elder with Rep. John Conyers (HR676)

Breast Cancer Patient Can No Longer Afford To Save Her Own Life

"We had major medical health insurance when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987," recalls Leslie Elder of West Palm Beach, Fla. "After a radical mastectomy, I was again diagnosed with breast cancer and had another radical mastectomy in 1992. Left with huge unpaid balances and tripling premiums, we were forced to drop the insurance in 2003."

"In 2005 I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, resulting in the removal of one and part of the other kidney. With the help of a family member, I paid almost $70,000 for the two surgeries." 




"I'm too horrified now to go back for check-ups, for fear of again hearing 'you have cancer, and you have no coverage.' I still work so I cannot get Medicare nor afford insurance. Between the insurance companies and the government, they've basically signed my death certificate."

"We need HR676, and we are supporting all organizations within our means who fight for HR676."

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Sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

Eighty-two percent of Americans think the U.S. healthcare system should be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt (Commonwealth Fund, Aug. 7, 2008). America's nurses know that only single-payer, improved and expanded Medicare for all will fix our broken system and the tragedy of our devastated families. HR 676, by U.S. Rep John Conyers, is the most comprehensive, cost effective way to achieve guaranteed healthcare for all.

For more information, or to contact this patient: Liz Jacobs, RN 510/273-2232.

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"Between the insurance

Submitted by Scuzz on October 2, 2008 - 9:10pm.

"Between the insurance companies and the government, they've basically signed my death certificate."

"We need HR676, and we are supporting all organizations within our means who fight for HR676."

But...wait. Isn't single payer going to be paid for BY the government or--more accurately--the taxpayers of the United States?

So I guess it doesn't really matter if it's the insurance companies or the government, the Grim Reaper just has it in for you.

Never mind the doctors and hospitals who got their inflated piece of that cancer pie.

The last time I heard a contradiction this bad was when Brian Fantana said 85% of the time, it works every time.

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This patient could not get Medicare yet

Submitted by Donna Smith - S... on October 3, 2008 - 8:05am.

Her comments -- as you know -- are speaking to the fact that she could not qualify under the current rules for the government's Medicare program, because she was still working -- as she noted. She was not contradictory.

But let me point out a real contradiction for you:

For-profit health insurance companies love the government's Medicare program when all that taxpayer money funnels their way -- as it does through the Medicare Advantage plans. Then government, taxpayer money is just dandy for the insurance giants.

Insurance fans only seem to cry foul on behalf of taxpayers when it threatens their profits. That's an old and tired scare tactic to throw in the word "taxes" whenever attention needs to be diverted away from the facts at hand.

Ask the giants in the health insurance industry if they like taxpayer-funded Medicare Advantage plans... Ask them if they like taxpayer supported health insurance mandates (like those in place now in Massachusetts for which the taxpayers fund subsidies)... Ask them if taxes given over to their bottom lines are evil and to be feared... Ask them if benefit programs for public employees that include private health insurance and are taxpayer funded are bad...

This patient was caught in the middle of a mess. And her life was at risk. That's her reality as a cancer patient.

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Donna what's your point

Submitted by Squibcakes on October 14, 2008 - 7:44am.

asking the insurance companies if they like to have guaranted demand for their services? of course they do... the reality is more complex... there was a period of time when medicare advantage plans were exiting the market left and right because they were not being paid enough to do it. Now they are being paid a lot again, and so everyone is back on board.

Why not ask a poor person if they like their welfare check? yes it benefits them and it also benefits me because that they are not panhandling on the street.

just because insurers can benefit from the things you listed doesn't mean that those things are fundamentally bad. You have to look at the whole picture. the truth is that the private sector saves cost all else being equal - just look at medicare part D. The only way a public system keeps up is by shortchanging the doctors and limiting a access to services.

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