rice.JPGOklahoma Senate candidate Andrew Rice, on his family's recent tussle with their health insurance provider after their 11-month-old son was hospitalized for pneumonia (via BlueOklahoma):

One month later we learned that our health insurance company was refusing to pay the $10,000 hospital bill because they said our baby Parker had a "pre-existing condition." I'm not kidding. When we argued that baseless reason away, they changed their excuse to "improper notification" by the treating physician, and said it was not a big deal because the hospital would just "write it off." They don't think it is a "big deal" to avoid providing the coverage we pay them for every month, and instead have the Oklahoma taxpayer foot the bill. That tells you something about how they see the world.

Not until they learned that Apple is a physician did the insurance company bureaucrats finally admit they had made a mistake and agreed to pay the legitimate claim....

The career politicians in Washington do not have the courage and integrity to reform this system, while 47 million Americans go uninsured and those of us who are insured must fight a system that is structured to deny claims first and ask questions later!   (emphasis mine)

When you contrast Andrew's record with that of current Sen. James Inhofe as Senate2008Guru has done, the need for real change becomes crystal clear. 

We have had our own family battles with insurers, and they usually end at the point where I mention both my husband and I are lawyers and can read our coverage provisions -- and say the words "bad faith."  It is beyond annoying to have to go through this while paying substantial monthly premiums for coverage.  Especially given that most folks throw up their hands in disgust and just pay for things that ought to be covered. 

Which is really the point, isn't it?  Profit by attrition.

Let's ask tough questions on health care, beginning with those that Ian points out in this thought-provoking post on our current system and potential changes.  And this one about costs to all of us.  Because it isn't just Andrew Rice:  Jane has battled her insurer on whether her surgery to remove invasive breast cancer and subsequent chemo was "medically necessary."  I've had hassles with my chronic lupus diagnosis, but not to the extent that Jane has the last year or so.    My point?  We are both well-informed consumers who aren't afraid to speak up if there is an issue...and yet we haggle, too. 

So long as insurance companies are for profit enterprises, their goal will not be the best health care possible.  It will be this -- not paying claims.  That is the truth of it, because that is how they profit.  For real change, we need better, smarter folks elected to represent OUR interests, not just the biggest contingent of lobbyists and campaign cash.

You can contribute to Andrew Rice's campaign here -- one of our many excellent Blue America candidates.   You can also make a big difference campaigning on behalf of progressive candidates in your area.  Real change happens one election at a time...here's to a whole lotta good change in the near future.