Guaranteed Healthcare

Just this month:

RATIONING

A friend had an elderly father with heart problems. He went ER, then was hospitalized. His trusted doctor wanted to put him temporarily in a nursing facility in which the doctor had privileges. The insurance company said no because the facility is not on their list of preferred providers. Their father was placed in a substandard facility, in which he contracted infections, had to have his pacemaker removed and when they wanted to remove his colon (he was 83) he said no. It was a six month hellish ride for his family. He just died at his own request. Six months ago he was a very healthy and vital member of his family.

EXPENSIVE and RATIONED

I had left rib pain that radiated up my neck and down my left arm. I did not want to go to the hospital, but my husband insisted. I had all the signs of a heart attack. They ran the standard tests, blood work, chest x-ray, and it came back ok. Although I was still in pain and nothing found, they said "free to go". They did the minimum, and got me out.

My doctor really wanted a treadmill/stress test done. I tried to schedule a stress test, but one to two weeks out. I waited two days, and went to a larger ER and they reran all the tests, x-ray again, but I did get a stress test. Thankfully, no artery block. But we could have done this the first time, if the doc and hospital weren't so concerned about the cost. In the end the money they saved the first round cost more.

Oh and why I have chest pain off and on, well you look good to us. I'm 59 y/o, the insurance is calling the shots, not my doctor. Why won't you push to get the insurance company clerks out from between me and my doctor? My doctor should not have to ask if I'm covered. I pay $14,000 a year for my self and my husband, as self-employed tax payers. This is before prescription co-pays, co-pays and deductibles.

Untrained clerks are making life and death decisions. Get them out. We have had it!

Do what's right, not what money talks. Through this and other experiences, my husband, me, and most of our friends have become radicalized on the issue of health care reform. And we would have gone for a strongly defined Public option but see that it doesn't matter where you compromise.

So put this comment in a strong single payer only will do list.