Comments on: Blue Cross To Docs: Help Cancel Coverage

Calif. Health Insurer Sends Letters Asking Physicians To Report Pre-Existing Conditions

[thoughtful5]

I live in Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield already contacts my doctors asking for medical records before they will process a claim. This is their leverage; you have to give them access to your records or they won''t pay on your claims. The letters to doctors in CA are probably to people who have older policies and don''t have this clause written in.

The news article is right, I am already withholding information from my doctor because I am afraid they will get the medical records. Even if he does not write down a diagnosis, if my symptoms go on the chart they could still say he should have made the diagnosis and call it a pre-existing condition. This nightmare starts over for us every 6 months because we cannot afford long-term insurance since my husband cannot get it at work anymore. I am trying all kinds of alternative medicines and am basically doctoring myself.

It used to be that everyone paid into insurance and the sick people got taken care of. Nobody minded because we all knew we could be next.

It was very telling when Bill Clinton was being impeached and his supporters kept defending him with the phrase "Character doesn''t count." Well character does count, and not just in politics. Sure people are in business to make money, but you can make money without abusing people. You just can''t make as MUCH money. If there is a need for government intervention, I don''t think it is to take health care over. It would be to regulate abuse.

[slim1h2o]

Canada enjoys a system far better than the "rake you over the coals for everything you got" system we have here.

Posted by rudy654 at 01:44 AM : Feb 13, 2008

I have to agree with you on this Rudy. The doctors will gladly tell you, that to be cured, you''ll have to "mortgage your life, your house, car,,basically your life. Or you can go, and die somewhere. Pr1cks!

These people have no more compassion than the rocks from which they crawl from, period!

[thoughtful5]

I live in Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield already contacts my doctors asking for medical records before they will process a claim. This is their leverage; you have to give them access to your records or they won''t pay on your claims. The letters to doctors in CA are probably to people who have older policies and don''t have this clause written in.

The news article is right, I am already withholding information from my doctor because I am afraid they will get the medical records. Even if he does not write down a diagnosis, if my symptoms go on the chart they could still say he should have made the diagnosis and call it a pre-existing condition. This nightmare starts over for us every 6 months because we cannot afford long-term insurance since my husband cannot get it at work anymore. I am trying all kinds of alternative medicines and am basically doctoring myself.

It used to be that everyone paid into insurance and the sick people got taken care of. Nobody minded because we all knew we could be next.

It was very telling when Bill Clinton was being impeached and his supporters kept defending him with the phrase "Character doesn''t count." Well character does count, and not just in politics. Sure people are in business to make money, but you can make money without abusing people. You just can''t make as MUCH money. If there is a need for government intervention, I don''t think it is to take health care over. It would be to regulate abuse.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by crusherking at 04:44 PM

Typical lies just like that from the NRA. Canada enjoys a system far better than the "rake you over the coals for everything you got" system we have here.

[rudy654-2009]

It''s time to set the insurance companies out in the trash can to be taken away to the dump and left there. First of all, they should be FORCED to pay a serious fine for this kind of krap, then they should be closed down permanently, with their executives placed in jail for the rest of their lives - oh and no health insurance. I hope one of these executives gets to read how much we hate them.

[seethruit]

This deplorable tactic by an insurance co is why U should ask your friends the following health care question, particulary those residing in the next Democratic primary states (TX, OH, WS, PA, etc.)
Do U think there is a potential that U could loose your job?
Do U have a pre-existing health condition?
Do U think U could loose your job in the next few years?
If U lost your job & have a pre-existing health condition, there is REAL possiblity U couldn''t get health insurance. My husband & I have no children. We made $300k last year,& we can''t get health coverage. We can AFFORD health insurance, but NO ONE WILL COVER US.
What are the folks making $75k going to do?

How is Obama''s plan going to address who will pay for those people who get sick & don''t want mandated insurance or think they can afford health insurance? We will!

Be an informed voter. Focus on the issues with sound solutions from Hillary, not the rhetoric from her opponent.

[lucasnico]

hey pghpa8........it''s called Dr. patient confidentiality. Insurance companies are making more money than God, and they will cancel you, yes you, if you so much as sneeze......quit defending them.... you''re pathetic.

[rowdytexan2]

Please don''t cry socialism if we get someone willing to promote universal health care, or a health care trust! Health care should be available for everybody when they need it, and not be directed by some bean counter down at an insurance company.

Why are we allowing these horrible companies to profit off of people''s suffering, up their rates every year and offer less coverage, and act like the KGB spying over your medical records?

Help get a universal coverage plan, or health trust that can hold medical care to costs and salaries...and make the *** pharmaceuticals bid on contracts to provide their krap to our public! Half the ***** they put out cures one thing, and then kills you another way!

Please make a thoughtful vote this November...

[stargate1121]

I thought since I would soon turn 65 that I would be able to get medicare and wouldn''t have as many dr. bills but am now wondering if I will or not. That really sucks what the dr. is having to do.

[thoughtful5]

I live in Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield already contacts my doctors asking for medical records before they will process a claim. This is their leverage; you have to give them access to your records or they won''t pay on your claims. The letters to doctors in CA are probably to people who have older policies and don''t have this clause written in.

The news article is right, I am already withholding information from my doctor because I am afraid they will get the medical records. Even if he does not write down a diagnosis, if my symptoms go on the chart they could still say he should have made the diagnosis and call it a pre-existing condition. This nightmare starts over for us every 6 months because we cannot afford long-term insurance since my husband cannot get it at work anymore. I am trying all kinds of alternative medicines and am basically doctoring myself.

It used to be that everyone paid into insurance and the sick people got taken care of. Nobody minded because we all knew we could be next.

It was very telling when Bill Clinton was being impeached and his supporters kept defending him with the phrase "Character doesn''t count." Well character does count, and not just in politics. Sure people are in business to make money, but you can make money without abusing people. You just can''t make as MUCH money. If there is a need for government intervention, I don''t think it is to take health care over. It would be to regulate abuse.

[slim1h2o]

Calif. Health Insurer Sends Letters Asking Physicians To Report Pre-Existing Conditions

After reading that sentence,,the only thing came to mind was....The B@asturds,,,,Both the doctors,,,and the Insurance Co.

Nice health industry we have here!

[l8c6]

The question/comment demonstrates the bias that exists even though what we are supposed to be seeing is true "reporting" not the opinions of the reporter.

Posted by pghpa8

In this case business IS evil. We should not have a system that discriminates against sick people. It''s the most immoral scam in this nation, the "health" insurance industry.

[susanhelit]

Oldthought - I''ve talked to people from Canada. They''ve posted here on these forums. No matter how their system (like any system) has it''s failings, they all agree - they''d never want to go back to our Health care system of putting our health in the hands of business only interested in denying as much as they can to get more money.

[thoughtful5]

I live in Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield already contacts my doctors asking for medical records before they will process a claim. This is their leverage; you have to give them access to your records or they won''t pay on your claims. The letters to doctors in CA are probably to people who have older policies and don''t have this clause written in.

The news article is right, I am already withholding information from my doctor because I am afraid they will get the medical records. Even if he does not write down a diagnosis, if my symptoms go on the chart they could still say he should have made the diagnosis and call it a pre-existing condition. This nightmare starts over for us every 6 months because we cannot afford long-term insurance since my husband cannot get it at work anymore. I am trying all kinds of alternative medicines and am basically doctoring myself.

It used to be that everyone paid into insurance and the sick people got taken care of. Nobody minded because we all knew we could be next.

It was very telling when Bill Clinton was being impeached and his supporters kept defending him with the phrase "Character doesn''t count." Well character does count, and not just in politics. Sure people are in business to make money, but you can make money without abusing people. You just can''t make as MUCH money. If there is a need for government intervention, I don''t think it is to take health care over. It would be to regulate abuse.

[pghpa8]

I must say that I was offended by the characterization that doctors are being asked to "rat out" on their patients. This type of reporting only reinforces my belief that as far as CBS news is concerned all business is bad. If someone commits fraud and lies on an insurance application, the company has every right to request data from all sources in an attempt to protect themselves from such fraud. Most, if not all, insurance companies request such information from providers as a sound business practice but, then again, business must be bad if it makes money and provides services to citizens since only the government can do so. The question/comment demonstrates the bias that exists even though what we are supposed to be seeing is true "reporting" not the opinions of the reporter.

[jncc1701]

Do you all realize that more than 50% of the health care market is funded by tax dollars?? and where do you think the money comes from for the uninsured - you got it from you and I. So give it a rest about socialized medicine - especially if you have no real idea what it means.
This is the only industry where you can buy a policy then have it cancelled when you try to use it. they take your money in the name of profit then refuse to pay you for what you bought.

Think about it this way, you bought a car, your payments are current but the bank is repoing the car because you drive it.

So if you really look at health care, the tax payer is already footing the bill, but those of us who work, are healthy, do not have kids, or who make "too much" cannot get this service. So we pay through our employers, then pay through our taxes for heath service we cannot quality for and if we then get sick we are kicked off private insurance..

gotta love an industry that can stick it to you from all sides.

tinkering with this sick system will not fix it. A major overhaul is necessary.

[thoughtful5]

I live in Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield already contacts my doctors asking for medical records before they will process a claim. This is their leverage; you have to give them access to your records or they won''t pay on your claims. The letters to doctors in CA are probably to people who have older policies and don''t have this clause written in.

The news article is right, I am already withholding information from my doctor because I am afraid they will get the medical records. Even if he does not write down a diagnosis, if my symptoms go on the chart they could still say he should have made the diagnosis and call it a pre-existing condition. This nightmare starts over for us every 6 months because we cannot afford long-term insurance since my husband cannot get it at work anymore. I am trying all kinds of alternative medicines and am basically doctoring myself.

It used to be that everyone paid into insurance and the sick people got taken care of. Nobody minded because we all knew we could be next.

It was very telling when Bill Clinton was being impeached and his supporters kept defending him with the phrase "Character doesn''t count." Well character does count, and not just in politics. Sure people are in business to make money, but you can make money without abusing people. You just can''t make as MUCH money.

[thoughtful5]

I live in Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield already contacts my doctors asking for medical records before they will process a claim. This is their leverage; you have to give them access to your records or they won''t pay on your claims. The letters to doctors in CA are probably to people who have older policies and don''t have this clause written in.

The news article is right, I am already withholding information from my doctor because I am afraid they will get the medical records. Even if he does not write down a diagnosis, if my symptoms go on the chart they could still say he should have made the diagnosis and call it a pre-existing condition. This nightmare starts over for us every 6 months because we cannot afford long-term insurance since my husband cannot get it at work anymore. I am trying all kinds of alternative medicines and am basically doctoring myself.

It used to be that everyone paid into insurance and the sick people got taken care of. Nobody minded because we all knew we could be next.

It was very telling when Bill Clinton was being impeached and his supporters kept defending him with the phrase "Character doesn''t count." Well character does count, and not just in politics. Sure people are in business to make money, but you can make money without abusing people. You just can''t make as MUCH money.

[thoughtful5]

I live in Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield already contacts my doctors asking for medical records before they will process a claim. This is their leverage; you have to give them access to your records or they won''t pay on your claims. The letters to doctors in CA are probably to people who have older policies and don''t have this clause written in.

The news article is right, I am already withholding information from my doctor because I am afraid they will get the medical records. Even if he does not write down a diagnosis, if my symptoms go on the chart they could still say he should have made the diagnosis and call it a pre-existing condition. This nightmare starts over for us every 6 months because we cannot afford long-term insurance since my husband cannot get it at work anymore. I am trying all kinds of alternative medicines and am basically doctoring myself.

It used to be that everyone paid into insurance and the sick people got taken care of. Nobody minded because we all knew we could be next.

It was very telling when Bill Clinton was being impeached and his supporters kept defending him with the phrase "Character doesn''t count." Well character does count, and not just in politics. Sure people are in business to make money, but you can make money without abusing people. You just can''t make as MUCH money.

[thoughtful5]

I live in Indiana and Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield already contacts my doctors asking for medical records before they will process a claim. This is their leverage; you have to give them access to your records or they won''t pay on your claims. The letters to doctors in CA are probably to people who have older policies and don''t have this clause written in.

The news article is right, I am already withholding information from my doctor because I am afraid they will get the medical records. Even if he does not write down a diagnosis, if my symptoms go on the chart they could still say he should have made the diagnosis and call it a pre-existing condition. This nightmare starts over for us every 6 months because we cannot afford long-term insurance since my husband cannot get it at work anymore. I am trying all kinds of alternative medicines and am basically doctoring myself.

It used to be that everyone paid into insurance and the sick people got taken care of. Nobody minded because we all knew we could be next.

It was very telling when Bill Clinton was being impeached and his supporters kept defending him with the phrase "Character doesn''t count." Well character does count, and not just in politics. Sure people are in business to make money, but you can make money without abusing people. You just can''t make as MUCH money.