From CNN wire:
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Top House Democrats on Tuesday slammed insurers who claim that domestic violence is a pre-existing condition that can be used to deny coverage to battered women.
They pledged to incorporate a ban on the practice in the health care reform legislation currently winding its way through Congress.
Forty-two states have already passed such a prohibition, according to a recent report from the National Women’s Law Center. Idaho, Mississippi, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wyoming and the District of Columbia have not, however.
“Think of this,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. “You’ve survived domestic violence, and now you are discriminated (against) in the insurance market because you have a pre-existing medical condition. Well, that will all be gone.”
A spokesman for an association representing health insurance companies backed the proposed change.
“No one should be denied coverage because they are a victim of domestic abuse,” said Robert Zirkelbach, spokesman for America’s Health Insurance Plans.
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I for one am glad about this. This makes perfect sense. I've said it before, just a few posts down, that our current system is broken and needs to be fixed. We may have the best healthcare in the world, but our system for paying it is sub-standard, and as examples show above, sub-human. We need to fix our health insurance system with more regulations and enforcing the ones we have on the books. No denying coverage for that "pre-existing" nonsense. If you pay your health insurance, you are covered. End of story. That is healthcare reform I could vote for.
I say Jamás to Hamas!
4 months ago
5 comments:
There are eight states that allow that...
That is a shame!
Its kind of like owning a car and having an accident then having another accident and not having your insurer cover you because it was a pre existing condition because you own a car and have had an accident before...
That does happen, Tao. Either that or they drop you because you are "bad luck." Even if the accidents weren't your fault. My insurance skyrocketed when I got hit by a drunk driver. They tried to pin the costs on me for being out driving when the drunk was. I dropped them like a bad habit and went to Geico.
James: You're right, car insurance companies DO jack-up your rates when you have an accident to recoup their losses.
If I'm not mistaken, I heard that a current health bill has a stipulation that over-weight people and smokers will pay extra for health care. I'm not sure if I agree with that, because I know some over-weight people (not obese) that are healthier than some thin people. I think it should be on a person to person basis. Each person should have a physical to determine their level of health.
But no one should be denied coverage.
As far as domestic violence...how is THAT health related? A man beats up a woman and she's denied health care? That's a crime and he needs to be thrown in jail! Where is the health issue? Just like road-rage. The shrinks claim that is a mental disorder now.
Geez, pretty soon we'll be able to claim cybe-bullying as a mental disorder!
But won't all the people that want less government get angry if government tells insurers to insurse women that were abused?
Heaven forbid big government try to protect anyone from insurance companies.
As Truth points out, there is a real problem with wanting less government. We need government oversight in the health insurance industry and using the pre-existing clause in such a malicious manner is just one more example of why insurance groups and financial groups cannot be trusted to police themselves.
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