Dustin Curtis - Latest Comments in Healthburn

Re: Healthburn

Jack — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 11:41:31 -0000

Partly the systems fault and an unfortunate, if minor "pre-existing condition" that wouldn't be an issue with the new healthcare legislation. On the flip side, this insurance company lost a potentially valued revenue source if you are in fact healthy. That's how the market works and it's their loss.

Re: Healthburn

Jacopo Nardiello — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 05:56:20 -0000

I can understand it and i know perfectly how it works in the US, what's your point of view.

What i simply hate are abuses, and the US health care system, exactly as the education system is an abuse to US citizens.

Don't worry, i was not offended, i'm italian, i get passionate when the discussion tone rise.

Re: Healthburn

Ron — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 18:21:21 -0000

Here's the deal dude - the USA is NEVER going to have European style universal health coverage. Its just not how the country works, and we will not likely see it in our lifetime. Its incredibly complicated. The best we can hope for is some more regulations over health insurance companies and maybe just MAYBE a low-cost public option that will drive costs down.

Now, the health insurance companies have framed the debate that universal health coverage = "socialism" and therefore all efforts to reform health care coverage = "socialism". Even if its not reflective of real socialism at all, its a great marketing trick and a way to sway public opinion especially in the right wing. Note the guy's reaction that we're responding to. He totally bought into it.

But when you interject european style universal health care coverage into the debate it gives the opponents fuel to the "socialism" argument because it is in essence "socialised medicine" meaning the state pays for all health care. So rather than framing the debate in terms of being about regulation it becomes idealistic debate over universal health care - which will never happen - and puts us back to a point where action never takes place because the goal is impossible.

And thats why from a US perspective when you talk about universal health coverage it sounds to us like "socialism good!". I'm sorry you were offended.

Re: Healthburn

Jacopo Nardiello — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:59:04 -0000

HOLY God, why socialism? Do you know wtf is socialism? or just talk because you have a mouth and feel like you have to use? (fingers in this case).

Is england ruled by socialism? Is Italy ruled by socialism? Is France ruled by socialism? i will answer: NO! and all of them have a GREAT health care system. Does people pay for their health care assistance? YES, they just pay proportionally to their income. My family pay 40% of the full "ticket", someone get it for free, someone else pay full service, that's life, that's how it should work.
What is important about this story? everybody had full coverage.

Just to let you underastand a BIT better what am i talking about i suggest you guys to use your time to investigate a bit about health care systems ranking from the WHO: http://www.photius.com/rank...

Check it out: 1st France, 2nd Italy; US? 37th place, behind Chile.
Great, enjoy your amazing system.

Ehi, you can still watch your amazing 42" LCD TV while dying of any kind of sickness you health care insurance refuse to pay for.

Re: Healthburn

Ron — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:50:20 -0000

You know what I hate about this healthcare debate? Its when you're talking about the infuriating practice of health care companies denying coverage to self-paid insurance claims and then someone with guaranteed group coverage cries "socialism bad!" because they are covered and don't give a shit, and then someone from europe cries "socialism good!" because it doesn't matter to them if the US gets a better health insurance system or not but the REST of us just want to pay for our goddamn health insurance without getting dropped. Is that too much to ask for? Why do you have to take this to some grandiose idealistic debate?

Re: Healthburn

Shawn Hill — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:49:50 -0000

Best Buy refused your business because you had heartburn?

Re: Healthburn

Jacopo Nardiello — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:39:21 -0000

Health care IS a God Give Right. That's one of the things that any democracy should have as priority. This is one of the fundamental rights, together with free accessible education and personal freedom.

Health is not something you can buy, as you can't sell it. Is acceptable for you that a children die because of a usual infection turning to be mortal because of lack of money to buy medicines? that's something that happens daily, that's a shame. I'm proud that this is something that do not happen in my country. I've no money to pay? The system will care of you, the society as human life is the most important thing on hearth.

I'm really surprised this simple idea is missing in too many americans.

Re: Healthburn

Ron — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:49:26 -0000

So wait you're comparing the desire to be given a flatscreen TV for free to the desire to actually be given access to health care coverage when you *want* to pay for it?

Yea that is totally the same thing.

Re: Healthburn

Cameron — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 16:26:24 -0000

One time I had a bad experience at Best Buy and blamed the entire thing on CAPITALISM. I was like "Why can't the government supply my electronic devices, man?!"

Get over yourselves, you're all very dramatic. It's unfortunate that these companies can't compete across state lines because you have the potential for incompetence like this, but it doesn't mean health care is a God-given right.

Re: Healthburn

dots — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 12:38:46 -0000

Update: I just got a notice in the mail from my health insurance provider saying they will not cover a CAT scan my doctor has issued after I had severe abdominal pains a few months back that woudln't go away. My insurance reasoning: I overspent my limit for the year.

I took a good look at what I spent, and I was horrified to discover all the stuff that isn't covered (really basic stuff too). On my plan, most women can go thorugh the "limit" pretty quickly by just going to see their gynocologist for an annual exam, and getting a pap smear, and yet we pay more than men for insurance. How is that fair or right?

I know my new debt is nothing compared to some people going through cancer treatments and whatnot, but it saddens me to know that all this money I put out every month goes towards nothing. I'm just grateful that I'm supposedly alright. However, I'm worried for the future, and scared that something will happen, and I will not be able to pay my medical expenses.

I hope that our president will continue this fight to change healthcare in this country. Just supporting the cause to eliminate extra charges for preventive care would help so many small businesses and individuals who are self-employed.

Re: Healthburn

The Donut Project — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:38:16 -0000

That's impressively terrible. Patriotism aside - things like this embarrass me to even live in this country. I fail to see how anyone can be ok with our current healthcare system.

Re: Healthburn

Dr. Jochen Leidner — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:15:38 -0000

The USA is a country of compassionate people where the commercial success part of the American dream is accompanied by philanthropic expectations. Bill Gates and his foundation try to cure Malaria and help rid Africa of HIV, yet in the homeland, people die from lack of medical care.

It is a good country to be rich in, but the needy are better served by any of the diverse political systems of Europe, where it is a commonly accepted value that a human life is beyond dollar/Euro valuation.

To my surprise many people in the U.S. do actually know that Europeans are better served, and it is no secret that the U.S. is much richer than any of the European states, so it can only be ascribed to a lack of faith in the political system that there is not more enthusiasm for change.

Think about it: here's a people that boldly believe they can go to the moon (and right they were), but nobody believes healthcare can be fixed!

Re: Healthburn

predator by nature — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 23:55:35 -0000

we have became consumers. who said we don't deserve (still) the right to be treated as humans?

Re: Healthburn

Angela Randall — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:54:25 -0000

The lady in the background on the form looks like she's shooting you the bird while you're filling it out. Ominous much?

Re: Healthburn

ventelations — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:07:56 -0000

That is one of the most ridiculous things ever. Why is insurance like that? I really think insurance would be just as much a money making business if things were not like that. Just think of all the people in the world paying for individual plans. Reasonable plans. Somebody would still make a lot of money. And people would be little more about the world of insurance. It would totally be a win win thing!! This absolutely crazy. I get heartburn, but I guess mums, or tums, the word!

Re: Healthburn

popimages — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 01:08:43 -0000

Imagine if you had gas.

Re: Healthburn

Dave Sutula — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 10:00:30 -0000

Never fill out an application for health insurance with anyone but an insurance guy. (I'm not an insurance guy, BTW). They know what to say and how to say it. If I were you I would call anthem and tell them i never filled out an online form, because now you've been denied you can never undo that. It's like an insurance felony. it will follow you forever - a denial, that is.

Call an insurance salesman.

Dave Sutula
peeps.pdpdev.com

Re: Healthburn

Shawn Hill — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 08:49:11 -0000

Best health care in the world as long as you don't need it.

Re: Healthburn

Pierre Bastien — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 23:17:02 -0000

Interesting point - never thought about it that way.

Re: Healthburn

Lee Kowalkowski — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 06:17:52 -0000

Wow. I get an increased heart rate every day when I run up 3 flights of stairs at work. And I've suffered from paralysis with a loss of consciousness virtually every night for as long as I can remember. But I never thought I'd be uninsurable. Do these guys insure anyone?

Re: Healthburn

Warner Onstine — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:31:36 -0000

Wow, this kind of nonsense has got to stop.

Re: Healthburn

Name — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 20:00:35 -0000

I am 25. I had a tonsillectomy 3 years ago, which my insurance provider (Aetna) paid for. A year later, when I turned 23, I went back onto group healthcare for 2 years. When I signed up with Aetna again for individual healthcare this year, Aetna almost denied my claim because I had tonsillitis and a tonsillectomy 3 years ago. And they had the gall to tell me they had no record of the operation.

Re: Healthburn

Jacopo Nardiello — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:00:42 -0000

Sorry Guys, this is the system you have chosen. All is great (if you have money). Health Care is no longer a service but a business and human life has a money value, your political system never had any interested in changing things and people in the us, too scared by media about a socialist/communist turn never had the brave to ask loudly to the congress. That's it, you no longer have a health insurance, you need to find another one and because of a stupid questionnaire you were refused. Did they, at least, visited you? i doubt, 10 questions to decide what will be of your life. Pontentially unprofitable? bye bye.

I wish you won't have any health problem until you find any company covering you.

I'm Italian, there are many problems in my country, but i'm proud that health care is offered by the state and you pay a fee compared to your yearly income. If you're poor, you do not pay. This is a fair system and we are not a communist dictatorship.

I wish you guys in "great" america will start think better and to claim from your politicians a more fair system.

Regards

Re: Healthburn

Name — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:55:56 -0000

Unfortunately, the message here is clear. Lie to them, and hope you can get away with it. Because that's the best way to run a business for all parties! What a ridiculous joke.

Re: Healthburn

Richard Archambault — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:28:54 -0000

Along with everyone else here, I am astounded. Fighting with an insurance company for acne treatment? Thank goodness for the Canadian system. it may have its flaws, but at least I don't have to deal with that kind of nonsense.