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Health Reform Could Mean More Treatment Denials

None of the current bills force insurers to actually treat patients

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 19, 2009 10:00 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Health care reform would force insurers to accept everyone, even those with pre-existing conditions; but it wouldn’t actually force them to treat those patients. None of the reform bills pending on Capitol Hill would restrict insurers’ ability to deny procedures for their customers, the LA Times reports. In fact, because they’ll have to take on sick patients, insurers will likely turn down even more claims as a way of controlling costs.

“There are going to be a lot of denials,” one former insurance exec said. “I am not setting insurance companies up to be villains. But we are telling them to bend the cost curve. How else are they going to” do that? Currently, most patients have no legal recourse if they’re denied coverage. The House bill would allow those on government-purchased insurance to sue in such cases, but those on employer-provided care would remain powerless.

Harry Reid, Max Baucus, and Chris Dodd speak to reporters about health care reform, Oct. 15, 2009.
Harry Reid, Max Baucus, and Chris Dodd speak to reporters about health care reform, Oct. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
Chris Dodd, Max Baucus, and Harry Reid talk to reporters about health care reform, Oct. 15, 2009.
Chris Dodd, Max Baucus, and Harry Reid talk to reporters about health care reform, Oct. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
In this July 30, 2009 photo, patients wait in the emergency room at Stroger Hospital, one of Chicago's safety net hospitals.
In this July 30, 2009 photo, patients wait in the emergency room at Stroger Hospital, one of Chicago's safety net hospitals.   (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Harry Reid, Max Baucus, and Chris Dodd speak to reporters about health care reform, Oct. 15, 2009.
Harry Reid, Max Baucus, and Chris Dodd speak to reporters about health care reform, Oct. 15, 2009.   (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
thejoint00
Oct 21, 2009 5:09 AM CDT
purposely/ doctors do NOT accept medicare
thejoint00
Oct 21, 2009 5:07 AM CDT
RNC-you should have to pay 31% co-pays (rather than 100% cash for service) for the same reason that any one who makes more than $250,000/year has to pay 40% taxes. it's an effort to keep america as a strong middle class by giving the lower income families privelages they would not other wise achieve in less forgiving countries. there are a lot positives you would be short changing your self on to purposley put yourself and every other american on a bankrupt system that only has a 4% overhead. many doctors already do accept medicare because there is no money in the pot and the payment method is slow and difficult. as opposed to the more profitable insurance companies where lawers and accountants don't work for free or at minimum wage.
Face-Of-RNC
Oct 21, 2009 4:38 AM CDT
Medicare operates with a 4% overhead. U. S. health care insurance providers operate with an average 25 to 35% overhead. They both deliver the same product. Explain to me please why I should pay as much as 31% more to a corporation when I can join with fellow Americans to do it so much more cheaply? You have missed the mark here joint.

 
health insurance • health care reform • denial • health insurance exchange • health insurance industry • pre-existing condition

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