General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe HORROR of "Police State" Private Insurance
I used to work for a public school district in Florida which self-insured. They decided their costs were too "expensive" and went on a policing, and premium increasing, heath "wellness" plan. Oh, you have no idea.
Besides targeting smokers (blood tests), it went way beyond that. Certain religious groups objected to these blood tests for smoking, but were told their premiums would increase with no blood tests. Before I quit, they were even talking about blood tests for spouses and CHILDREN of employees.
Overweight? Forget BMI. Every employee was required to get their waists and hips measured because this was a better indicator of your risk for heart attacks. They could "catch" more employees this way, even those who would be considered underweight. Are you apple or pear shaped? You are either, or. How about CELERY shaped? While I refused to be measured (26 waist 34 hip), a 60 year old, 4'11", 90 lb. coworker did. They told her that her 25 inch waist and 32 inch hips were "apple shaped", and she need to see their health coach to discuss a diet and GYM membership. This tiny woman not only had C-Sections for both her kids 30 years ago, but also worked with special needs kids and pushed wheelchairs and lifted and changed diapers all day. She need to workout at a GYM after this kind of work at 60 years old???? You want risk of HEART ATTACK with all that physical activity at her age?
As if this was not bad enough, they then targeted female employees of child bearing age based on "risk" according to AMA "recommendations". Apart from the Miss America measurements, this one caused the most outrage. The medical questionnaire said that the AMA strongly recommends women have their first child before the age of 30. "Are you, OR YOUR SPOUSE (????), under 30? "Are you planning to have your first child in the immediate future?" So they were going to penalize their female, or even married MALE, employees for not having a baby before age 30 because of medical "risk"????? Follow the MEDICAL Guidelines whether you were married or not, or could AFFORD a child before age 30???
This school district hired 4 "health coaches" who were LPN's to the tune of $1.5 million a year. They took the blood tests, measured employees, and also "coached" them on diet, and took them GROCERY SHOPPING, monitored gym memberships. My first thought on this was how many of them personally know RICK SCOTT??? I quit working here, and this SICK health insurance was a major part of it, despite how much I really liked and wanted to work the special needs kids.
Would YOU want this kind of health insurance?
upaloopa
(11,417 posts)have to fit certain profiles health wise and financially or you will be unable to function in the system. It led me to think that there will be an underground of people who don't fit the profile all supporting each other.
BeachBumLiberal
(7 posts)Private insurance is SCARY!
Your story is truly disgusting. My only brush with that type of lunacy was when an insurance company wanted to "manage" my pregnancy. No thank you! I preferred placing my trust in my OB and endocrinologist, tempting as it was to rely on a private company trying to save money at the expense of my health.
Brickbat
(19,339 posts)No government could be more invasive. Mr. Brickbat has a prescription that he and his doctor agree is something he needs in order to function. It is not a controlled substance, nor is it addictive. Our insurance says he can only get 19 pills prescribed a month. One of my kids was also prescribed an inhaler for sports asthma. The doctor wrote a prescription for two inhalers -- one to keep at home, one to keep at school. Nope, says the insurer -- you can only get one a month.
So the pharmacist offers to call the insurer and explain the situation. Which is nice, but...SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. The insurer should say, "oh, look, a DOCTOR has decided this is important. Not only has this doctor have a great deal of training and professional experience, she has actually VISITED THESE PATIENTS. Let's defer to her!"