Health Care Reform Is Here: Insurers Forced to Comply
Two major insurers, UnitedHealth Group Inc and WellPoint Inc, have announced that they will no longer terminate insurance coverage to policyholders who become sick.
WellPoint was the first major insurer to announce their plans yesterday, after Reuters reported that the insurer had been preferentially terminating coverage to policyholders who became diagnosed with breast cancer. According to Reuters,
Democrats pushed for action sooner after an April 22 Reuters report said WellPoint used computer algorithms to target women with breast cancer for an investigation, with the intent of canceling their healthcare policies. WellPoint has called the story inaccurate. Reuters has stood by the report.
WellPoint will implement the new policy by May 1, 2010.
UnitedHealth has implemented their new policy immediately.
These actions represent the earliest major implementations of health care reform legislation passed last month. The deadline to end rescission, the practice of revoking coverage once a policyholder becomes ill, is September 23, 2010. Two other current practices, denying coverage for pre-existing conditions and capping lifetime payouts, are also required to meet the September deadline.
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Source: Reuters
Photo credit: The operating theatre, Metropolitan Hospital, London. Photograph 1896. Wellcome Library, London
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Kim Gamble
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Susie Lindau
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Comments
Since my own battle with breast cancer, I have never missed an insurance premium payment, even when I was moving, or unemployed, or underemployed.
Because, I know they will use it as an excuse to drop my policy. I know I will never find another insurance company to take my policy. Even though I will celebrate this summer the 11th year out, I am afraid of losing my insurance.
I wish we could do away with insurance entirely. That is probably naive to say, but I do wish it. They are a friend to none.
China would execute them for social reasons. And China would be right. Minimum, exile them to some dismal island where they can only exploit themselves.
TennCare in Tennessee, Hawaii's children's program, Maine's and Massachtusetts' universal health insurance programs all have runaway costs, poor service, and rationed care. Get real: there is no free lunch.
Reading the comments posted, I marvel at the ignorance therein. Reuters cannot substantiate their claim, which both Linda and most readers seem to take as truth. I always believe what I read on the internet. It's all fact!
They are counting on the old adage “that if you tell a lie long enough and loud enough people will believe you”. It’s called propaganda and brainwashing. For that to work they are counting on people not having the firsthand knowledge or ability to do true unbiased research before making their decisions. An added bonus for GOP/Fox is when someone is racist. Otherwise why would someone call the healthcare issue “Obama-nation”?