Insurance companies and Pharmaceutical companies
By stacyv81
@stacyv81 (5903)
United States
February 14, 2009 11:29am CST
Here is a little story.
Meet Ed, he works for a construction company, one day while working, he falls and breaks his neck because of unsafe scaffolding. He goes through surgeries, and he still has pain, spinal damage and head injuries.
14 years later, his workman's comp has run out he is having tremendous trouble getting social security benefits, the insurance company doesnt want to pay for most of his medical bills, and he is still waiting for the settlement from the insurance company.
Meanwhile, his doctors have him on all kinds of medication, including oxycontin!
Oh, yeah forgot to tell you he has a history of overdosing, and addiction.
and the Insurance company keeps stalling....
Why?
Well, some think that the insurance company is hoping he will die before they have to pay out!
What do you think? Is this a classic example? Has anyone ever went thru something like this?
ps... it is not me I am talking about
2 people like this
5 responses
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
14 Feb 09
It happens all the time. and it is a shame the insurance companies are not their when they are needed. Something should be done about it. My father paid his insurance for probably 50 years, when he got sick in his 50's, he did everything that the doctors told him to do, it took him 20 years to get to the point where he got sick enough to need a heart, lung transplant. and by the time his doctors would put him on the list to receive one the insurance company would not pay because they said that he was to old. He could have had it done if he would have had the money to pay for it himself, some times i think that insurance is just a waste of time.
@dlr297 (5409)
• United States
14 Feb 09
I agree with that every one should have two separate accounts, one to pay for medical bills, Their money would probably go a lot further.and they could make their own decisions on the medical care that they want to receive they would not have to get the treatment the insurance companies think that they should receive. and their should be one for retirement that way they would not have to depend on social security to decide how much we get when we don't work anymore. As for the discipline to do it, that's another thing, because the young just don't think about things like that. i know that if i would have known then what i know now, it would have been a whole different story.
@clorissa123 (4926)
• United States
14 Feb 09
All Insurance corporation did the same to its policyholders. It is okay for our customers to pay monthly for the expensive insurance. When things happen, they will find every loophole in trying to avoid the compensation expense they suppose pay for us. At least they don't want to honor the agreement on the original signing - paper. We are the one who forced to honor this agreement; While they are deceiving us to pay for it every period of time.
@wheel416 (1019)
• Canada
15 Feb 09
This discussion and your comments are reminding me of the documentary done by Michael Moore, called "Sickco". I have not seen it entirely but it was an hour and 1/2 approximately in which Michael Moore criticized America's insurance companies for doing exactly what it is you describe. The taking of money and then refusing a payout saying you are ineligible for what ever reason. I am Canadian and we are not without problems of our own as well but they're certainly different than yours. You are absolutely right it is an wrong that a company can take money from you and then not render services when they're needed.
I just had to add my 2ยข worth to your post as well.
@faith210 (11224)
• Philippines
18 Feb 09
Hi stacyv81! That is really unfortunate for Ed! Insurance companies can get cruel sometimes. They usually get their payments from people easily but they always make it difficult for the people to claim insurance benefits.
Take care and have a great day!
lovelots..faith
@mariposaman (2959)
• Canada
15 Feb 09
That is not an unusual story. I was reading how about 20-30% of cancer patients are not taking the medication they require because the cannot afford the medication. That is in the United States. Why you hang onto such an awful system that leaves son many people out to suffer is beyond me. Why do you not lobby for universal medical and dump those insurance companies. They are not there to look after you, they are there to make money and the only way to do this is to deny coverage. Keep supporting the system you have and you will keep hearing the same old stories.
@momtrying2makeit (3270)
• United States
14 Feb 09
To me I know this story is so true at times. I have heard many stories from people from all walks of life. They work their butts off and get injuried on the job or a bad accident happens to them and then they are unable to do their jobs anymore. And due to someone elses fault now they are forced to live with no money and trying to get diablity benefits. And then there are people who like to cheat the system and apply to get diablity and really they can work and get it with no problems at all. It just not make any sense to me. I realize this is a hugh issue in the us and I feel that something should be done about it. I think this is a good discussion and I look foward to seeing others thoughts and feelings on it as well. Happy mylotting!
