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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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29

Health Reform Could Mean More Treatment Denials

None of the current bills force insurers to actually treat patients

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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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29 comments
VIEWING:
 
Cprizzle
Oct 19, 09 10:08 AM CDT
Insurance companies look out for themselves. As sad as it is, this article is probably accurate. But the problem is their attitude toward people (Real live people). They view them as a piggy bank. Reply
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+6
IN RESPONSE:
rkossik
Oct 19, 09 11:04 AM CDT
Another good reason to have a strong public option.
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
BleeBloo
Oct 19, 09 11:33 AM CDT
Totally correct, rkossik.
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+1
Wonka
Oct 19, 09 10:10 AM CDT
"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" Get rid of exorbitant salaries and bonuses to start. Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
davjc09
Oct 19, 09 10:20 AM CDT
Their salaries and bonuses are not exactly exorbitant when compared to companies in other industries. The average CEO of a tobacco company makes $12 mill compared to health insurance is only about 7$ mill. One is actually providing a service (albeit not always the one we want), the other is slowly killing our nation.
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+3

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