I say yes, you say no, OR People are Strange

Changes definitely have to be made to the health care system, but they need to be the right changes that actually help ALL patients get access to the care they need rather than a monstrosity of a law that will take years (that many patients just don't have) to show benefits to anyone other than insurance companies.

On the issue of insurance company death panels . . . read this article.  It will blow you away:

 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/health/views/06chen.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hpw

The former head of PR for Cigna had a crisis of conscience and has written a book ("Deadly Spin") about the ways the for-profit insurance industry manipulates public opinion.  One especially despicable act (and what appears to have been the last straw for this guy): sending a spy to the funeral of a 17-year-old girl who was denied a liver transplant.

I just don't have words for this.

Linda

I read that horrendous article on the transplants and was shocked to think that a life in the US is only worth $14,000.00!!  The cars Oprah gives away every year costs more than that!  I think people like Oprah should have been contacted and asked if she would purchase a transplant as a gift to that person. Or maybe all those billionaires could set up a "transplant" fund and their donations could be used for a transplant.  There are many ways around this horror but yet two humans were left to die instead of those "in the know" contacting many people in our country who would have gladly paid for those transplants, imo.  If a person is too old or unhealthy enough to survive a transplant, that is one thing but it gives me chills to think a younger person could have been left to die.  I notice the ages of the people were not given.  And YES, imo, the AGE does count!  I am sorry we were not given more facts on this issue.  What will the history book say about our country if this isn't stopped NOW!?

Sorry PatMom, my syntax was a little off.  I'm sure you know that I meant a suitable transplant organ might have been available the next day -- IF he were still alive, and IF he hadn't been denied the chance to live.

lindasa:  Why not?? They can take it off as a tax deduction in some way and be saving people's lives.  What is $14,000.00 to a billionaire.  As much as I want to see money go to research, we are not facing reality if we really think we are going to see cancer, diabetes and other serious diseases cured in our lifetime.  They make too much money off of our illnesses and we won't go into how the donations are "really" used in the organizations.  So why not use donations from the wealthy to save lives who have loved ones wanting them to survive!    If our country just sits back and lets people die when $14,000.00 can probably save them, I think it will save something horrible about us in the history books!  Just my opinion but who cares about what "I" think!

Medigal -- Do YOU want to have to depend on the largesse and the whims of a wealthy individual for your care if you need drastic services to save your life?  Gosh, I wouldn't want to count on that. 

Lindasa:  I would rather depend upon someone like Bill Gates or Oprah than my crapped up federal government.  By the time the gov. decides what to do and who to spend it on we would be in the Second Coming!!  I am talking about asking the billionaires to make a decisive commitment to set up a payment fund for these reasons.  That way, the money IS available and it will just depend upon the physicians to decide if the patient can cope with a transplant and whether or not they think it will be rejected.  Not everyone who needs a transplant is well enough to survive one.  However, I just want the money to be available for those who are able and ready and just can't PAY for them.  Medicaid is just about bankrupt so these people cannot depend upon being poor getting them their transplants.  There HAS to be another option and you will turn into fried green tomatoes waiting for Washington to come up with the right idea!

Yep .. there was no doubt what Elizabeth was thinking just before she died.  She appointed her daughter as executor of her estate.

Bren

I think Bill Gates and Oprah have already decided where they will spend their money. And they both do a lot of good. There certainly are lots of other rich people but as the divide between rich and poor in this country continues to grow more and more of us will have to depend on the kindness of strangers. Or the government.

Yea .. but Elizabeth .. the gov has to keep big business happy.

Good on Elizabeth Edwards.

States denying Medicaid patients transplants is barbarism. I am ashamed.

Hi - I wanted to check in a few days late to say thanks to Bren and to Shirley for the kind words about me not feeling so well. Just too much chemo for too long leads to lots of infections. I'm getting better, though. 

I've also been busy - sad to say - talking to lawyers because my insurance company has denied, after the fact, a $22K payment. It happened last Jan. and I've been jumping thru hoops ever since trying to get it reversed. I shouldn't say too much on a public forum, I guess, but believe me when I tell you it's crazy. I am now at the last level of appeal. It's sort of a case of he said, she said between the hospital and the insurance co. I've tried to stay on top of things, handle communications properly. I'm the one who did the right stuff, and also the lucky one who gets the bill when things blow up. I thought this was ironic in light of the recent posts concerning similar issues. It's very discouraging. Everybody please cross your fingers for me. I already pay a fortune to one of those state run high risk pools for people with pre-existing conditions since we currently don't have access to group insurance.  

Crossing fingers,

Sandy 

Medigal, I have to disagree with you re: the barbarism of State governments.  Texas had an existing program, accepted these people on a list for transplants, and backed out at the last minute because Texas decided it couldn't afford it.  Do you really think they couldn't have found that $1.4m somewhere else in the budget?  I'll bet they spent money on high-profile "fun" things like parks or ball fields or library books.  GRR!

Enjoyful,  I agree.   When you look at the waste in government spending it is horrible at the price the public has to pay.  

Sandy, it makes me so angry to hear of so many of our bc sisters fighting with insurance companies.  Capitalism is wonderful but it is like a cancer when there are no or few regulations in place.  Money is the reason our products are made in China and that so many American people are left destitute by their illnesses.   

enjoyful:  I don't know much about the state of Texas but if they truly did what you think then it was a horrible act.  I will need to do some research to try to find out what condition Texas is in compared to other states.  Maybe they are not in the same bad finanacial condition as so many others .  If they truly had a way to get the money and backed out at last minute they are very horrible, imo.  However, I have heard and read so much about how so many states are suffering financially, it is the reason I felt they probably could not afford the money for the transplants.   To people like you and I, the transplants should take top priority but to the people running the governments, "they" might think that new "Park" for kids needs to be built.  If politicians were able to think rationally, we would not be in the predicament we are today.  I certainly don't want to see the Medicaid program in trouble.  Healthcare should always take top priority before parks etc. but I am not the one making the rules.  I join you in your "GRRRR!"