Is this how a nationalized health care system will work?A friend of mine was in a serious accident in March 2005. He is blind in one eye and his vision in the other is seriously compromised. His legs are numb from the knees down forcing him to walk with a cane. He has almost constant shaking of both hands even with the medication he is on to control it. He cannot walk or stand for any length of time without getting tired and having to sit down. All of these issues have caused his psychological health to suffer and he is currently taking anti-depressants.
He hasn't worked since the accident and of course applied for Social Security disability benefits as he has been paying into Social Security for over 25 years. As is typical his claim was denied and he was forced to hire an attorney and file an appeal. He initially filed in July 2005 and his hearing was just held yesterday. The judge hearing the case was stunned that this was ever declined, as it is obvious he will never be able to work again. He told my friend that he would receive a favorable decision in about four weeks and could expect his first check about 3 months later.
After being forced to pay into a system for 25 years he will receive benefits about 35 months after he was injured and 31 months after applying.
Do we really want to trust the government with our basic health care?
Of course disability and health care are apples and oranges. This just illustrates how inefficient and slow moving the government really is.
If the government hadn't forced my friend to pay into Social security perhaps he wouldn't have needed the benefits. The point is that Social security is another social program that we are all forced to participate in and when benefits are needed good luck trying to get them. This is not an unique or extreme story, it happens all the time all over the country.
As for HMOs this type of thing is a rarity. You generally get responses to requests quickly and the appeals process is much much faster.
Posted by Steve
Nobody is talking about nationalizing health care. They're talking about nationalizing insurance.
And if you don't think there are hundreds of thousands of stories exactly like that involving private insurance, then you are blindly partisan.
For instance:
'When Steve and Leslie Shaeffer's daughter, Selah, was diagnosed at age 4 with a potentially fatal tumor in her jaw, they figured their health insurance would cover the bulk of her treatment costs." But "shortly after Selah's medical bills hit $ 20,000, Blue Cross stopped covering them and eventually canceled her coverage retroactively."
Do you really trust a multi-national insurance company with your health care?
Posted by mr_crankypants
The reason he had the problem is that he has to use Social Security MONEY to pay for PRIVATE FOR PROFIT HEALTHCARE surgery and drugs. In a government run system he would not have to worry about reimbursements. Please wake up, for profit medicine is not working.
Posted by mild_irritant
That's still quicker than an HMO.
Posted by ohiofirefighter42
Disabilty benefits and health care are apples and oranges....
Posted by Goldenrae9
No, all of the proposals I've read allow for people to keep private insurance. Look at MA. They have what Hillary is proposing as their plan.
By the way. I have a friend whose insurance is only paying $ 150,000 of their bone marrow transplant. He needs to pay cash for the other $ 250,000 to pay for it. Would you like to donate?
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