What’s Your Health Insurance Horror Story?

Yeah I hear that!

This is an important subject. Let's keep it going. I have had my chance to learn more than I wanted to about the health care crisis in the USA since my diagnosis with breast cancer in 2007. Please visit my site at htt://www.healthfail.wetpaint.com or follow me on Twitter (@fauxgypsy). I have detailed my experiences with health care or rather the lack thereof. Reform is needed but not the reform the insurance companies want.

Seriously, I do hope that you find your way, your avenue or whatever it may be. definately the help at least you are seeking.

nor am I one, although I am trying agian to find faith. Sometimes it seems harder and harder everyday. Wht did Obama say...Yes we Can?? And ohhhh, how he is!!!! Can't even be the better person and step down from the offer out of just respect period. He most definately has been challenged if he is paying attention, we will see what he does. In the mean time, if an ass who shows such disregard for the very people who fought for someone like him, yes, Black, not racist just hello, he his black. With out others like you and yourself, he never would of could of. Kind of ironic, and he is destroying the very platforms that lifted him up to accept the gift he was so graciously given, who knows if he will ever find himself to be able to come down and see and listen to us commoners doesn't it?? Black or white doesn't matter although the card does still often get played. We all are on the same boat. A big round fat one. Global anyone???

I would seriously contact my Congressman on that one and possibly even consider getting a new lawyer. Who ever maybe handling your WC case doesn't seem to be very effective at it. There are times, case in point Obama recieving a Law degree from Notre Dame, where you can be given honorary exception, or even grandfathered in. I would also look to the Military, legal cousil of veteran affairs. I am truly sorry for you having to go through all this. Maybe even if you could find a church in which you feel some solidity with that may help, they can out reach in many different ways. Look at the past Pope John Paul. He lived his life mostly shunned and in secret, until the Catholic Church finally souht to retrieve him and use him for their cause. (Just Cause and means I do believe.) He was very profound in his life, his funeral was only testimoinal of that with th 1000,s that literally had walked for days or weeks just to see him. I am not saying being a GOD freak gives all the answers

While recieving workers comp benefits you cannot do continuing education if you can no longer do that job. Even though I could no longer do that specific job, my 20 years of experice is only validated by the license I could hold which now is worthless. Almost every medical admin position requires an RN degree to even be considered for a job that has nothing to do with actual hands-on patient care. Because my license expired because I was not allowed to do CEU's I am screwed...and no longer "fit" into job requirements. Worker's comp does give you re-training which I did get. I went into the HR field only to discover that I was unemployable. HR has extensive background checks and they use them. Because of this I realized why I have spent the last 6 yrs trying to get a job and did not get one single callback. Prior to my injury I never went a day unemployed (20 yrs). I think that says alot about HR. I am Blacklisted and cannot do anything about it. I may have to get a new SSI#

No doubt your situation sucks though. Whats that saying?? It sucks to be me?? I feel like that sometimes...

of course it further dehabilitates you. I would inquire about that. Where I come from the Workers Comp thing steers you toward re-educating yourself torward something more feasible for you, or enlightening you more in the field you are in. I am not exactly sure what you are referring to though.you have mentioned your background is also Army related? Correct??

I think HR can be an awful word myself. It seems what we have and what is being promoted even further is people without the capacity to make decisions about or for others, even the Doctors themselves. Treatments avoided, even with insurance because the admins thinks it costs way to much. That is in our now as it is reformed health care, and that is also why I say please reform us no more, give the care decision and making back where it belongs to the doctors, even the lawyers when concerning workers comp, should not be allowed in the Health Care decision process. I must say, I had a friend though who got the big C, didn't have insurance, and actually because of that very thing, he recieved the 'Best" care around, and I know my stuff when it comes to that area. He beat it, when he was told he probably would not, but ended up dying about a year or so later from something else. It sounds wierd that your being told it is against the law for you to take courses of any capacity unless

I had a work injury that ended my medical career. It went misdiasgnosed for a year. A simple MRI would have shown the problem so it could had been corrected and I could still work. Instead of looking at the possibility that a $400 procedure would have saved my career and saved them MUCH more money than they eventually spent, they chose to prevent the testing necessary to fix the problem. Even worse, while on worker's comp and having 11 surgeries to repair the damage--it is against the law to do the continued education needed to keep my liscense so now that I can work I do not even have my past experience to rely on. Workers comp laws are there primarily for the unskilled employee. For a skilled worker it prevents you from actually moving forward in life. My 20 years as a medical professional are worthless. I can't even get a job in admin. I believe that HR uses some form of reporting which allows them to see a previous claim. I am Blacklisted and it is even not my fault!

Nationalization, or lets say Internationalization. I talked to a friend over in Britian, and it was quite the funny. She has almost terminal breast cancer, and because her survival rate is so low, they decided it wouldn't be 'Prudent' to give her any treatment at all, even though she still does have a chance, because thier Socialism economy has done broken, and the government there is now dictacting who gets help and who doesn't.
And I have to say, that when someone does not have insurance here, there are times we all turn to what we call the 'emergency room' if things get to bad, and we do get treatment. Canadians, they even fly here for there surgeries or serious condititons, because the care there offers no incentives as all doctors are paid the same basically, thus creating a market with no iniatives. Health care for the basics are ok, but simply put, why be a DOCTOR if you don't get the proper compensation? It's well earned.

Mark, you are a Right Wing tool, and you have not talked to any people from countries that have"socialized medicine". The same can be said of those "other countries"; let's look at the parts that work. At least people get health care, and much of it preventative. Here, no money, no insurance, no health care. All those doctors have to be paid at the time of the office visit. What this means is that no matter how good our health care system is, if you have no access, you have no care.
Get off this "no government" kick. You will hear no good news until health care is a right, not a privilege.

Although there are many frustrating issues with our health care system I think we have to look at the parts that work. There seem to be many more horror stories from countries with national health care or socialized medicine. The government can't fix the school system, why do we think it will take care of our health system? There are many problems with the system but we have many successes with it as well. Why do we never hear any good news at all?

Humana refusing to cover the cost of a drug my doctor prescribed. My doctor and I appealed their decision, but to no avail. My doctor is outraged that insurance companies now wield the power to dictate one's method of treatment. In the eyes of the corporate world, an individual's life is not worth much.

I am self emloyed, tried to buy health insurance but because I was on anti-depressants for 4 months, I was denied. So I stopped taking them and bought health insurance. I pay 425.00 a month and then when you use it, they barely pay anything. So I'm thinking of cancelling it.
My brother has to pay 895. a mo. because he is on some meds and no one would insure him, but he finally found a company and look what he has to pay.
In my opinion, the pharam. companies are ripping everyone off by the extremely over priced drugs. Something needs to be done.
I've heard of families filing bankruptcy because they had cancer and couldn't pay their bills, very sad indeed...

I am currently without insurance which is a story unto itself, but the real horror story for me is my 83 year old grandmother who was put on cancer medicine that costs $274 a month for 30 tiny pills. She has medicare part D but she already met her limit and now she's fallen into the coverage gap where she has to pay 100% of her meds. How is someone living on $1100/mo supposed to afford over $300 in medicine a month (counting her other prescriptions)? Something is just VERY wrong with this whole healthcare system!

It could have been a horror story, had it not been for the second surgeon who had to cut out the poison from my leg and footed the bill for me. When I returned from my two years traveling and working in Asia, I had $100 to my name and zero health insurance. I was a risk taker, after all. Funny thing, it wasn't until I came back to the US that I got bit by a brown recluse spider. Highly venomous, their bites basically create an ulcer that eats away at your skin. I thought I had an ingrown hair until my stepsister noted the infection. Two slices with a scalpel without anesthetic into my calf later, I had a hole in my leg, $300 dollars out of my pocket, and a smile from a nice Harvard Medical Center surgeon who, with the second appointment to remove the remaining poison, didn't charge me a thing. I was very lucky. And now I have a story with my scar, so that's kindof cool.

I really don't have a Health Insurance Horror Story as of yet. I just started my Medicare Insurance as of June 2007. I guess I will find out because next week on tuesday I am going to have a Total Hip Replacement Surgery. I am very much affraid of the after math of exspenses though. I had tried to get a power wheelchair from the scooter store and they denied me because they said I did'nt need one and that I have use of my hands.

I did'nt understand. I asked myself what does that have to do with my having to get around in my home. What are they saying? I can use my hands to (walk) on? But I have use of my wheelchair which is manual, but I want to have freedom to get out and about to do my own things instead of someone doing it for me all the time. So, that commercial they have on television The Scooter Store is just all lies, I feel!!!!!!!! So, everyone Pray for me and I hope no one else has this problem!!!!

CassieT2U
Cinti, Oh

I had a prescription that was suddenly not covered. When I asked the insurance company about it, they acted apologetic but suggested another brand. Online many women were complaining about this new "brand" which caused several side effects. I also had several months' worth of claims not covered back in my mid-20s. I called the insurance company close to fifteen times and kept getting a "new person." I finally paid it out of frustration. Given my salary at the time, I'm not sure how I swung it.

I was working for healthcare software company in North Carolina, when I used the medical plan in place. We were told that payments for the plan were to be deducted from our paychecks once a month. I went to the doctor frequently for 1 month and 1 year after going to the doctor I received a bill stating that the premiums were reversed because the company did not pay the premium. In other words the bills were paid by the insurance company, but the insurance company asked for their money back from the doctor and the doctor gave it back after a year!

People do not want to go to the hospital when they get sick. I have known people to get in car accidents or injured, and refuse to go to the hospital. They would rather go home and try another remedy! If medical insurance is not taking our checks, the IRS sure is! Look at the rich stars....they don't have the problem with medical insurance or anything else...except having too much and no true happiness!

Medical insurance is so expensive it is like making a mortgage payment. My mother, was paying $600 a month, until just last year when she turned 65! Can you believe that? That is aweful. She said she paid it because she was taking a lot of medication for her allegies and the regular basic insurance plans did not cover it. Car insurance is cheaper than medical insurance! Something needs to be done. Why is so much money being funneled into the cities building stadiums, and monterail, high rise buildings and entertainment parks....what is this world coming to? The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer. It is hard enough paying rent, and providing for the basic family necessities. God help single mothers or people with young children right now! You are darned if you do and darned if you don't. You can't make too much money or you do not qualify for anything......terrible........insurance costs, like I said before, is outrageous!

Medical co payments and medication is out of control! No wonder the death rate is increasing!

My health insurance company reversed charges from 2 years ago on medical bills that had already been paid. I got a $80,000 bill in the mail two years later. Imagine that! Why did they authorize charges when each time you go to the hospital they check all of that information? I feel it is really unfair....you should see my credit history from all these medical billing collection agencies.....

As Laura pointed out, pre-existing conditions not being covered. This means some of the very sickest (or those who have inherited or chronic illnesses) not being covered at all. Psychotherapy and "alternative" treatments—such as massage and accupuncture (often the only treatments which will help heal a problem or simply alleviate pain)—not being covered, or covered insufficiently. I particularly have a gripe about therapy not being properly covered. When will American policy makers come out of the Dark Ages and recognize that our mental health is as important as our physical health?

Eight years ago, after moving to Arizona with my fiance for grad school, I was "blackballed" from all insurance companies. I went an entire year without insurance, even with the AZ insurance commissioner fighting for me. Why? All because I told my dermatologist (yes dermatologist) that my sister has lupus. This was put in her records and someone, somewhere interpreted that as if I had lupus (even though a dermatologist can't diagnose it!). The dermatologist even wrote to Kaiser and Blue Cross Blue Shield saying I don't have a pre-existing condition and they had no right going through her private consult notes. I went a year without insurance until I was married and could get on my husband's plan. Word of advice: watch what you say in private consultations and ask that nothing be written down by doctors that can be used against you--especially if you are a freelancer or consultant or own your own company.

I don't have any personal health insurance horror stories (but don't get me started on the dentist) but having worked in a cancer clinic, I had patients ordering their chemo from Canada, where it was much cheaper, husbands writing letters to senators to try and get their wives experimental treatment covered, and patients paying out of pocket for thousand dollar therapies. With an aging and ailing population, something big needs to change or things are bound to get worse. I think the Democrats have the right approach with a public health care system. I know we have a capitalist society, but maybe our health (and sickness) isn't something that should be capitalized on.

Can anyone say $1500 deductible? I'm sure I don't need to explain any further. Let's just say that a few vials taken at the gyno add up, a lot, and in the end, I was stuck footing the bill.
Awful!