Yes, you read that right. Take a moment. Collect the pieces of your shattered brain. And let me repeat:
This woman's son was denied health care coverage because her insurance company said his acne was a pre-existing condition.
Watch the video here:
There are no words. Oh wait, my rage found some:
This is bureaucracy in action. This is a clear and obvious sign that our health care system is broken. Is acne painful, and sometimes embarrassing? Sure. Is it a prohibitively expensive, life threatening condition for which an adolescent boy should be denied health care coverage? Absolutely, positively no. Not that anyone should be denied coverage for any reason, but even by the health insurance companies' ridiculous standards, this logic is absurd. What's next? Denying someone coverage because they can't get a date to prom?
All flippancy aside, this is no joke for the family in this situation. Even though this woman's family pays a premium of $500 every month, her son is still not covered because of a broken health care system that lets abuses of power like this happen.
For those who oppose a public health plan option, because they fear government bureaucracy, guess what? The nightmare of bureaucratic delay and lack of care that you fear is one we're living in now. We need reform this year. It's time to wake up.
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Medical coverage for acne? Oh please! That's why people have such large medical bills. Sorry, but I don't consider acne a medical condition, nor should insurance pay for it!
And another thing - why would people who drag themselves out of bed every day to go to work, work their cans off, and pay for their insurance premiums want those who won't work to get their health care for free? I just don't get it! I don't like going to work every day either, but I do it! I know people want it more affordable, but the only way to accomplish that is to 1) get rid of greed (root of all evil), and 2) tort reform. Government run anything is not the answer. Look around you - that's obvious!
From what I've read here. It's not just a matter of the insurance company denying coverage of the son's acne treatment. Which by the way can be a serious and require medical treatment! From what I'm reading. Because of his acne. The insurance company is saying it's preexisting and therefor he's not eligible for health insurance for any reason what so ever! Meaning if he broke his arm, he wouldn't be covered, if he got Meningitis he wouldn't be covered, etc.
Nicole is correct, Lucy. This boy can't get any health coverage simply because he has acne. It's quite insane. No one here is talking about covering the acne, it's about the insurance company using the acne as an excuse to get out of covering this boy for any health problems.
This is a prime example for why we need health insurance reform.
This sounds like so much crap to me. Which Insurance company was it? What is the total story here?
Lucy,
I reply to one of your posts earlier and felt compelled to reply to this one as well. One major breakdown in communication in this country is a lack of understanding the definition of words and/or terms. For example 'medical condition' is any illness, injury or disease that effects a persons health. Acne, just as many medical conditions, has levels of severity but as a medical condition should not be ignored or dismissed.