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        New Message Board Archives >> 2007 General Board Posts >> HMO horror stories
        
(Message started by: artonio7 on Nov 10^th, 2007, 1:42pm)

Title: HMO horror stories
Post by artonio7 on Nov 10^th, 2007, 1:42pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Bxh9W_wyc4

This burns my ass.

with warm regards,
Tony

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by Ray on Nov 10^th, 2007, 1:48pm

...And rightfully so!

That is an outrage, assuming it's true. Bearing in mind that insurance companies are in business to make money, not pay claims, it's understandable.

It burns mine too!

Ray

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by ClusterChuck on Nov 10^th, 2007, 2:01pm

Another example of big business, screwing the little guy!

Unfortunately, BTDT ... And my credit report still shows the results of it!

Chuck

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by Jonny on Nov 12^th, 2007, 4:23pm

WTF!? >:(

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by cheese whiz on Nov 12^th, 2007, 4:55pm

No big surprise...ins. companies are crooks.

I'm still fighting one who admits guilt for my accident, and subsequent injuries, yet continues to lie and try to screw me.

We'll see if they are so smug when we go to court in a year.

I plan on breaking it off in them if I can.

Dave

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by LeLimey on Nov 12^th, 2007, 4:58pm

Yes my little gorgonzola but in the meantime they have been earning shitloads of interest on the money and THEIR insurance will cover their legal fees - which YOU will pay for once again when your premiums go up.

Tell me again how you can "win"?! :-/

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by fubar on Nov 12^th, 2007, 5:04pm

There is an awesome federal law called ERISA. A lot of health plans and other insurance plans are covered under ERISA. What is ERISA you ask? It's the Employee Retirment Investment Security Act. Doesn't that sound great?

What is ERISA? It is a law that protects your retirement income by making it possible for insurance companies to simply DENY all claims, thereby saving money for your retirement! Isn't that awesome!

The law makes it so the insurance companies NEVER have to worry about paying claims. The WORST that can happen, after they deny your claim, and you take them to court and win, is that they ave to pay the original claim amount AND NOTHING ELSE. So, there's no incentive to pay anybody at all. There's no possible punitive damages, no paying the plantiff's lawyer fees, and the claimant can only lose because they had to pay a lawyer to get the insurance company to pay up... sometimes the lawyer costs more than the claim amount.

Isn't it WONDERFUL? Aren't you glad they pass laws like this to protect us?

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by StrangeBrew on Nov 12^th, 2007, 5:32pm

And the rocket scientist reporter at the end of this piece said the following:

Quote:

Meanwhile, Governor Schwarzenegger and the state legislature are working on a plan to cover ALL Californians.

An attorney who represents people who say they've been wrongfully dropped by insurance companies says, "If everybody was covered, we wouldn't have these problems."

No, we wouldn't have these exact problems. We'd have a bunch of other problems take their place. Like long lines at the clinic, the state telling you what meds you can and cannot have (i.e., you can have the cheap ones), which docs you can and cannot see (i.e., you can see the cheap ones), a general lowering of the quality of health care, and paying directly to the state in the form of new taxes for the priviledge.

If anybody thinks socialized medicine is the answer, you go right ahead and vote that way. There are candidates who will make your dreams come true.

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by Charlie on Nov 12^th, 2007, 6:19pm

When people living in other countries are asked if they would exchange universal health care for what we have, all but a tiny fraction of them say no. Of course insurance and drug companies have hired shills from everywhere to say otherwise. It's 40 years late here.

Or......keep shooting yourself in your foot and keeping drugs and services and the cost and availability of CH drugs a topic for rants and horror stories.......or, join the rest of the civilized world.

Charlie

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by cheese whiz on Nov 12^th, 2007, 6:29pm

on 11/12/07 at 16:58:12, LeLimey wrote:

It is not my company who I am suing Helen. Win!?!?!?

You never win with injuries. The best you can hope for is to break even because the punitive damages are not quantified by simply showing monetary loss.

But I think you have your information, or lack thereof, crossed up.

The small amount of money I expect to collect from them isn't squat as it relates to "collecting interest"

Any "win" I get would be subjective. However, anything I can do to cost them money, due to their greed and dishonesty, makes me happy.

"Their" doesn't have an insurance company...they are an insurance company...auto insurance that is ::)
The only persons rates who will go up is the assclown who pulled out in front of me...if he can even get insurance anymore
:D
Claims are something auto insurance companies figure into each years expenditures. As cars become more expensive to repair and medical procedures increase...so does the rates for all auto insurance premiums.

Considering that I have suffered both monetary and punitive damages, I sure & the hell deserve compensation.

That is why I carry insurance and why the state makes auto insurance mandatory for dumbasses like the jagoff who didn't even look where he was going. HIS negligence is why insurance rates go up every year !!

Waddya think? I'm some kinda rube who doesn't research these things? ::)

sigh

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by LeLimey on Nov 12^th, 2007, 6:34pm

Nope I think we were talking at cross purposes and I was being sarcastic.

Here, we have to declare if we've had an accident in the last three years whther it was our fault or not and stuff anyone who tells you it doens't load your insurance (here) because it does!

Having said that Paul and I were comparing quote prices and cover not so long ago and its a hell of a lot cheaper here. Insurance is compulsory here too as well it should be but it doesn't stop those who drive without insurance. I'm pretty sure you get people everywhere doing that which is another reason policies get loaded.

I'm sorry if you thought I was being rude about you, that wasn't my intention - its just insurance whatever it is for always seems a heads I lose tails they win situation but you can't afford NOT to have it. Something is just very wrong with the whole thing.

Good luck with your suit (((HUG)))
Helen x

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by cheese whiz on Nov 12^th, 2007, 6:39pm

I already have health insurance, and pay for it myself. I get things on my own, I don't expect others to provide anything for me. Why would I want to subsidize someone else's insurance? Thats ignorant.

Last thing I want is the dumbass State to "provide" me with "their" insurance plan. Mine works just fine.

Our Gooberment cant run a popcorn stand, does anyone think they could solve this problem? [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif] [smiley=laugh.gif]

Comparing other countries system to ours is naive. Different systems, different problems.

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by cheese whiz on Nov 12^th, 2007, 6:49pm

I dunno Helen. It is expensive for good auto insurance I think.

Mine costs me a lot, but it does protect me pretty well.

Here, we have to have a Police officer take a report and it gets sent to the State. One or both drivers MUST receive a citation. He got one for pulling out without looking...failing to yield I guess it is.

Here is something my company will do: they will increase my rates and tell me it is just a normal rate increase.

Hasnt happened yet, but I guarantee it will.

Even though it was 100% his fault, my company suffered a loss due to paying a medical claim and having to go to arbitration to get it back.

Illinois Insurance Commission says that insurance companies are not allowed to raise rates on innocent policy holders due to accidents they didn't cause....HA HA HA...they do anyways.

I have to live with that, cause that is just how it is.

I'm going to guess that UK insurance is cheaper because there are less cars on the road and/or because medical stuff costs so much here....hence, a loss to the insurance companies here y'all don't have.

Just my guess.
Dave

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by Maffumatt on Nov 12^th, 2007, 6:58pm

universal health care may work in other countries, but they don't have 300 million people and the yahoos in our government bureaucracy to screw it up. Want to see what it would be like? Visit your VA hospital. Talk to the patients and ask their opinions. I have and its sad.

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by Jonny on Nov 12^th, 2007, 7:35pm

on 11/12/07 at 18:58:19, Maffumatt wrote:

universal health care may work in other countries, but they don't have 300 million people

BINGO!!!!!

NUFF SAID!!!!!

Title: Re: HMO horror stories
Post by cheese whiz on Nov 12^th, 2007, 7:36pm

on 11/12/07 at 18:58:19, Maffumatt wrote:

You have a very good point there Matt.

I don't think liberals are wrong to think a better health care system is needed.....we know it is.
I just am not sure it is very feasible here.

We are getting too big....300 million of us is a lot. Our system has been in place so long, I'm not sure it can be changed that easily.
I don't care about the politics of it.
Here is what I ask:

Does it cost me more?
Do I receive worse care or long lines?
Will I be less protected from malpractice of bad physicians?
Will my taxes be raised?
Will it increase the deficit?

If "Yes" was the answer to any of those.... I don't want it.

I believe universal health care could be considered Constitutional.

The questions are those I have asked.

Get them all in line and solve the problem, I'm fine with it.

A less "fiscal" debate arises as it relates to socialized medicine vs. our Capitalist system.

Does universal health care compromise our Capitalist system? Or perhaps move us closer to socialism?

Fair question indeed !!!

I would guess that the response to that would be that we once didn't have public sewer systems, a Coast Guard (1903 I think it was) or Federal highways. Now that we do, we are much better off and it didn't ruin Capitalism.

Gotta admit, it's a good argument.

For me, the questions are what I have asked.

Cheers, Dave