"FOR THE PEOPLE . . ."

Last month, President Obama had his physical examination (which we presume was unremarkable). More interesting, though, was that in addition to the tests the rest of us would receive during an annual physical examination, he also received a coronary artery scan and a CT scan of his colon (also known as “virtual colonoscopy”). Now, while there are arguments for and against these tests being routine, there are two factors that cannot be denied. First, no one asked whether he could afford them because his insurance didn’t cover them and, secondly, he underwent non-invasive testing that provided significant information to his physicians that would have been unavailable without invasive tests. We do not know whether the tests were paid for by his federal insurance plan, whether he paid for them out if his own pocket, or whether he was provided them simply because he is the President of the United States. It doesn’t matter.

Every day thousands of physicians argue with insurance companies across the country to get needed tests and treatments from companies that excuse themselves from paying because: 1) it isn’t covered, or 2) it isn’t covered for THIS condition, or 3) it is “experimental,” or 4) it isn’t “medically necessary,” 5) it isn’t how “we” (the insurance companies) define “emergency, or 6) they simply deny coverage and will wait until you go through their entire appeals process before they will pay. Remember, under ERISA (another gift to them from Congress), they can only be liable for the costs of the test or treatment they denied, even if you die without them. The excuses are endless but they all amount to one thing – you’re “screwed” unless you happen to get elected to Congress or are in the White House.

If this is truly a government “of the people, by the people, and for the people,” shouldn’t we all have the same opportunities? If your representatives in Congress refuse to vote for health care reform (after more than 60 years of procrastination on behalf of their insurance company donors) isn’t it time we rid ourselves of these individuals who put their own welfare, or that of a single constituent group about the welfare of the nation and vote others in? Let them know how you feel. Call, write, or fax your legislators and demand health care reform now. Without it;

IT’S TIME TO MAKE RECALCINTRANT INCUMBENTS OF BOTH PARTIES AN ENDANGERED SPECIES IN NOVEMBER!

THE CHOICE IS OURS . . .

Today’s news contained a piece about Lance Lewis. In November 1988, after a fall down the stairs, he became quadriplegic. Fortunately, as an employee of (then) Corestates Bank, he had chosen the top of the line medical plan, despite its additional cost, so that once out of the hospital, he could remain in his apartment with outpatient nursing care paid for by his insurance. That was then, this is now.

After the bank was absorbed several times, and has now become owned by Wells Fargo (possibly the single largest agent of home foreclosures in the country), they decided that after more than 20 years of covering his nursing care, they would no longer honor the agreement. In other words, they did what insurers and financial institutions have been doing all along – changing the rules whenever they feel like it, and “sticking it” to the helpless, disabled, uneducated and poor to improve their “bottom line.”

If Wells Fargo doesn’t change their mind, and if Mr. Lewis does not sue for his benefits and win, he will be forced into a nursing home where, because he will not get the individual attention he has been getting, he will likely develop a variety of related conditions and his life expectancy will be significantly shortened, not to mention the quality of his life.

If anyone doubts that we need health care reform in the United States; if you question why the insurance companies’ actions and motives are suspect; if you wonder why there is an attitude of wanting to send financial and insurance company executive to the guillotine, just ask Lance Lewis. We have two choices right now. The health care bill currently being advocated is certainly not the one I would write if I could, and there are multiple problems with it, but it will go a long way toward helping. We can call our legislators and demand that they pass health care reform NOW, or we can wait until we fall down the stairs, and wish we had. The choice is ours, but we may not be able to live with the wrong one!