Ah yes - this is what sick people get now and the Repubs want it to continue this way

Pixsurguy · 10-01-2009, 03:11 PM

Dear MoveOn member,
I'm at the end of my rope. What CIGNA is doing to me is—well, it's outrageous.

I have a brain tumor. Doctors are ready to help me. But CIGNA has been blocking me from getting testing and treatment for two years, while almost doubling my premiums.

Then, this week was the kicker. CIGNA's pharmacy called to say that the co-pay on the medicine that helps control my debilitating head pain is skyrocketing from $10 to $1,115. That's not a typo. They're making me pay one hundred times what I'm paying now, in addition to my $753/month premium.

I can't afford that. So when the pain comes, I won't have any defense. I'll spend hours in the fetal position, out of my mind with pain.

When my story went public a couple of weeks ago—with the help of over 100,000 MoveOn members—CIGNA said they would pay for a test I'd been asking for at Cleveland Clinic. It was a step in the right direction. But after two years of denials, and with a long course of treatment ahead of me, I knew better than to just take them at their word.

So I asked questions. But they wouldn't offer any explanation for why they denied my coverage for so long, or any assurance that they had changed their procedures so I wouldn't face the same unjust denials again. And I began to wonder if they were more interested in just sweeping my story under the rug than actually helping me.

When I got this latest news from CIGNA's pharmacy on Tuesday, I kept asking myself, is this a mistake? Or is this happening because I went public with my case? Are other CIGNA customers receiving the same phone calls?

I used to give CIGNA the benefit of the doubt, but after years of unexplained denials, I've had enough. So I'm asking for your help again. For myself, and for everyone else who is suffering, I am asking CIGNA for answers.

And I think it would help if thousands of people like you were to join me in demanding them. I'm writing them a short letter with a simple question: Why? Can you add your name to my letter?

MoveOn.org Political Action: Sign Dawn's Letter

Here's what I've written to Dr. Jeffrey Kang, CIGNA's Chief Medical Officer:

As you probably know, your company has denied me needed care for two years while I suffer from a debilitating but treatable brain tumor. I pay my $753.47 premiums. I follow the proper procedures. But CIGNA refuses to give me the care I need.
Instead, you keep increasing my prices. First my premiums rose by hundreds of dollars, and now my prescription costs are going up by more than 10,000%.

What makes you think you can treat sick people this way? When will you stop doing this to me and the thousands of people like me who are suffering? And if you solve this latest problem, how do I know you won't do this to me again next week—that you're actually changing your ways and not just trying to make your PR problem disappear?

Please answer these questions. I need to know, for the sake of my health and my life. Many others have signed this letter too, to support me and make sure I get answers.

Respectfully,
Dawn Smith

Thanks for all you're doing. I don't know where I'd be without MoveOn members' help.

Most sincerely,
Dawn

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, MoveOn.org Political Action: Democracy in Action. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to John M. Nader on October 1, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

hortysir · 10-01-2009, 04:43 PM

Ya know, as soon as I saw this title (before I even clicked on it) I thought, "That sounds like a moveon.org scare tactic type story".
Yes copays and premiums are rising exponentially these days.
The best way to curb some of this is to open up state lines and let all insurance companies compete in an open market....This is the most common strategy that I'm hearing from those evil republicans.
Contrary to what this group would have you believe, no one is suggesting that these people should just suffer.
This is exactly what Article 1 Section 8 calls for : To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes
~~~~Regulate, in this sense, means to keep regular~~~~
Meaning that there shouldn't be limits and restraints across state lines.

How many uninsured do you think there are?
Are you of the 45-60 million school of thought (which includes illegals)
Or more towards 20 million?
In either case, that means adding all these people to the patient lists with no significant increase in the amount of doctors or nurses.
Can you honestly state that there wouldn't be rationing under these conditions?

Throughout Washington there are cries from democrats, "If you have a better plan, bring it forward"
But NOBODY is responding to opening up state lines.
Probably because the senator or congressman for state "X" wouldn't get lobbyist stroking if state "Z" has a better rate....

Flynn · 10-01-2009, 05:59 PM

Medical insurance is a business.

If I was a share holder of CIGNA I would be sending the CEO my approval of how the business is operated.

Blame your past or present government for the inadequate health care facilities that is America.

CIGNA is a publically listed company working hard to make a profit for its investors.

bbell · 10-01-2009, 06:51 PM

The reason no one who understands capitalism talks about allowing insurance companies to cross state lines as a solution. Is because these are private companies. Allowing them to cross lines will just make things worst.

Let me explain. Just like the telephone and electric companies. The companies will start to merge. After they merge they will then be able to exclude large amounts of people in the poorer states. Miss, La, Ak. They will then take the majority of their profits from the richer states. That is how capitlism works. With fewer companies more profits will be concentrated in the hands of fewer people. This in turns means the Congressmen will have fewer masters. Thus the masters will gain more power because they will be the only game in town when it comes to getting re-election money.

And of course because the Republicans do not believe in regulations. They will have free range to do as they please.

crhend · 10-01-2009, 07:30 PM

Pix,

Got a thought for you and the rest of your rich democrat buddies, donate and setup a bunch of free clinics. Or get these people busfare to Canada with their socialized medicine and they can wait to get on a list, if they don't die first. Or do like the folks in Canada do and cross into the US of A and pay. And by the way, every hospital in the US that accepts grants or is associated with any government agency is REQUIRED BY LAW to render medical care regardless of ability to pay.

Nympheas · 10-01-2009, 08:18 PM

Ok. I'm not drawn into the Rep/Dem, US/Non-US thing. At all.

What has always been a head-scratcher for me, from childhood on, was why did it matter if a person was already sick or not for their care to be covered. And if the technology and care is available, why not provide it for those that need it?

I remember asking as a kid, isn't that what health coverage is for?

When my son had a neck injury in school and ended up in a brace and strapped to a gurney and transported by ambulance the thought shouldn't have crossed my mind ... at all.... oh god, will this be covered.

hortysir · 10-01-2009, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbell

The reason no one who understands capitalism talks about allowing insurance companies to cross state lines as a solution. Is because these are private companies. Allowing them to cross lines will just make things worst.

Let me explain. Just like the telephone and electric companies. The companies will start to merge. After they merge they will then be able to exclude large amounts of people in the poorer states. Miss, La, Ak. They will then take the majority of their profits from the richer states. That is how capitlism works. With fewer companies more profits will be concentrated in the hands of fewer people. This in turns means the Congressmen will have fewer masters. Thus the masters will gain more power because they will be the only game in town when it comes to getting re-election money.

And of course because the Republicans do not believe in regulations. They will have free range to do as they please.

I'm not necessarilly talking about the insurance companies crossing state lines as I am talking about allowing consumers to shop for insurance across state lines.
States like NY and NJ only have a couple choices to choose from, and both choices are "Cadillac plans". Meanwhile people in, say, Utah have dozens of choices in all price ranges.
Let people that live in NY have access to the cheap plan in Utah. Why limit options?
If consumers are given more choices, and competition is allowed to grow, prices will drop.
As long as companies in NY only have to offer a couple choices, they can charge what they want. They have a sort of monopoly over consumers.
If they want to compete with that company in Utah, they'll be forced to lower their prices.

Iceman · 10-02-2009, 12:21 AM

Horty, it was the same with our electricity and phone companies..They had a monopoly and were charging us an ungodly price and after deregulation and other companies started doing business, our utility prices have dropped a lot..

hortysir · 10-02-2009, 12:33 AM

I guess that makes 2 of us that don't know what we're talking about

hortysir · 11-02-2009, 07:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flynn

Medical insurance is a business.

If I was a share holder of CIGNA I would be sending the CEO my approval of how the business is operated.

Blame your past or present government for the inadequate health care facilities that is America.

CIGNA is a publically listed company working hard to make a profit for its investors.

Oh, yes, those "evil" insurance companies that so many are pointing a crooked finger at.
Industry-wide this segment of our economy reported a 2.2% profit.
2.2!!!!
Not a big profit margin. Nevermind the $$ numbers. You can throw them around all day in order to sticker-shock someone.
But just look at the margin of profit. 2.2% ssssooooo evil

Now look at it this way....
At least it's a profit.
The government has been running social security and medicaid/medicare at a loss for years. And we're expected to trust them with more than 20% of our economy???
No matter how 'good' or 'nice' this plan is, when do we just say NO.
When my checkbook reads "ZERO", I stop spending.
Only 40% of Americans favor a "public option", but Pelosi, et.al. are going to push it through wether we like it or not.
Where, as a Nation, did we make that turn that says it's okay for our government to control us?

10-01-2009, 03:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
Pixsurguy Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 16,986 Rep Power: 1734	Ah yes - this is what sick people get now and the Repubs want it to continue this way Dear MoveOn member, I'm at the end of my rope. What CIGNA is doing to me is—well, it's outrageous. I have a brain tumor. Doctors are ready to help me. But CIGNA has been blocking me from getting testing and treatment for two years, while almost doubling my premiums. Then, this week was the kicker. CIGNA's pharmacy called to say that the co-pay on the medicine that helps control my debilitating head pain is skyrocketing from $10 to $1,115. That's not a typo. They're making me pay one hundred times what I'm paying now, in addition to my $753/month premium. I can't afford that. So when the pain comes, I won't have any defense. I'll spend hours in the fetal position, out of my mind with pain. When my story went public a couple of weeks ago—with the help of over 100,000 MoveOn members—CIGNA said they would pay for a test I'd been asking for at Cleveland Clinic. It was a step in the right direction. But after two years of denials, and with a long course of treatment ahead of me, I knew better than to just take them at their word. So I asked questions. But they wouldn't offer any explanation for why they denied my coverage for so long, or any assurance that they had changed their procedures so I wouldn't face the same unjust denials again. And I began to wonder if they were more interested in just sweeping my story under the rug than actually helping me. When I got this latest news from CIGNA's pharmacy on Tuesday, I kept asking myself, is this a mistake? Or is this happening because I went public with my case? Are other CIGNA customers receiving the same phone calls? I used to give CIGNA the benefit of the doubt, but after years of unexplained denials, I've had enough. So I'm asking for your help again. For myself, and for everyone else who is suffering, I am asking CIGNA for answers. And I think it would help if thousands of people like you were to join me in demanding them. I'm writing them a short letter with a simple question: Why? Can you add your name to my letter? MoveOn.org Political Action: Sign Dawn's Letter Here's what I've written to Dr. Jeffrey Kang, CIGNA's Chief Medical Officer: As you probably know, your company has denied me needed care for two years while I suffer from a debilitating but treatable brain tumor. I pay my $753.47 premiums. I follow the proper procedures. But CIGNA refuses to give me the care I need. Instead, you keep increasing my prices. First my premiums rose by hundreds of dollars, and now my prescription costs are going up by more than 10,000%. What makes you think you can treat sick people this way? When will you stop doing this to me and the thousands of people like me who are suffering? And if you solve this latest problem, how do I know you won't do this to me again next week—that you're actually changing your ways and not just trying to make your PR problem disappear? Please answer these questions. I need to know, for the sake of my health and my life. Many others have signed this letter too, to support me and make sure I get answers. Respectfully, Dawn Smith Thanks for all you're doing. I don't know where I'd be without MoveOn members' help. Most sincerely, Dawn -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, MoveOn.org Political Action: Democracy in Action. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to John M. Nader on October 1, 2009. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here.

10-01-2009, 04:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
hortysir Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South...Thank God! Posts: 19,829 Rep Power: 3575	Ya know, as soon as I saw this title (before I even clicked on it) I thought, "That sounds like a moveon.org scare tactic type story". Yes copays and premiums are rising exponentially these days. The best way to curb some of this is to open up state lines and let all insurance companies compete in an open market....This is the most common strategy that I'm hearing from those evil republicans. Contrary to what this group would have you believe, no one is suggesting that these people should just suffer. This is exactly what Article 1 Section 8 calls for : To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes ~~~~Regulate, in this sense, means to keep regular~~~~ Meaning that there shouldn't be limits and restraints across state lines. How many uninsured do you think there are? Are you of the 45-60 million school of thought (which includes illegals) Or more towards 20 million? In either case, that means adding all these people to the patient lists with no significant increase in the amount of doctors or nurses. Can you honestly state that there wouldn't be rationing under these conditions? Throughout Washington there are cries from democrats, "If you have a better plan, bring it forward" But NOBODY is responding to opening up state lines. Probably because the senator or congressman for state "X" wouldn't get lobbyist stroking if state "Z" has a better rate.... __________________

10-01-2009, 06:51 PM	#4 (permalink)
bbell Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 169 Rep Power: 98	The reason no one who understands capitalism talks about allowing insurance companies to cross state lines as a solution. Is because these are private companies. Allowing them to cross lines will just make things worst. Let me explain. Just like the telephone and electric companies. The companies will start to merge. After they merge they will then be able to exclude large amounts of people in the poorer states. Miss, La, Ak. They will then take the majority of their profits from the richer states. That is how capitlism works. With fewer companies more profits will be concentrated in the hands of fewer people. This in turns means the Congressmen will have fewer masters. Thus the masters will gain more power because they will be the only game in town when it comes to getting re-election money. And of course because the Republicans do not believe in regulations. They will have free range to do as they please. __________________ One Man's torture session is another Man's come to Jesus Meeting

10-01-2009, 08:18 PM	#6 (permalink)
Nympheas Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: US Posts: 1,443 Blog Entries: 4 Rep Power: 1588	Ok. I'm not drawn into the Rep/Dem, US/Non-US thing. At all. What has always been a head-scratcher for me, from childhood on, was why did it matter if a person was already sick or not for their care to be covered. And if the technology and care is available, why not provide it for those that need it? I remember asking as a kid, isn't that what health coverage is for? When my son had a neck injury in school and ended up in a brace and strapped to a gurney and transported by ambulance the thought shouldn't have crossed my mind ... at all.... oh god, will this be covered. __________________ Thank you Anna!

10-02-2009, 12:33 AM	#9 (permalink)
hortysir Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: South...Thank God! Posts: 19,829 Rep Power: 3575	I guess that makes 2 of us that don't know what we're talking about __________________

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10-01-2009, 05:59 PM	#3 (permalink)
Flynn Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: The Austrlaian Capital Territory, Canberra, Flynn 2615 Posts: 6,616 Blog Entries: 18 Rep Power: 1049	Medical insurance is a business. If I was a share holder of CIGNA I would be sending the CEO my approval of how the business is operated. Blame your past or present government for the inadequate health care facilities that is America. CIGNA is a publically listed company working hard to make a profit for its investors.

10-01-2009, 07:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
crhend Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Camden Twp. Ohio Posts: 4,446 Rep Power: 2742	Pix, Got a thought for you and the rest of your rich democrat buddies, donate and setup a bunch of free clinics. Or get these people busfare to Canada with their socialized medicine and they can wait to get on a list, if they don't die first. Or do like the folks in Canada do and cross into the US of A and pay. And by the way, every hospital in the US that accepts grants or is associated with any government agency is REQUIRED BY LAW to render medical care regardless of ability to pay.

10-02-2009, 12:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
Iceman Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 17,929 Rep Power: 3099	Horty, it was the same with our electricity and phone companies..They had a monopoly and were charging us an ungodly price and after deregulation and other companies started doing business, our utility prices have dropped a lot..