Why Teddy's Health Care Vision must pass - 33 year-old woman kicked out of hospital in Houston TX

[1776Forever]

My step-sons 33-year-old fiance was a truck driver. She had a stroke in IN and was given a couple of tests and then sent back to her home state of TX because her insurance stopped just before she went into the hospital(?). We don't know how they pulled it out from under her but they did. Then when she went to the hospital in TX they found out it was a heart issue and that she was going to need an operation but since the insurance had been pulled out from under her the hospital kicked her out! Just like that!

We are trying to help her out to get the insurance reinstated and I have told her to contact the Attorney Generals Insurance Department in the State where her insurance was based. This just shows that if you can afford it the USA does have good health care, but if can't it is a terrible situation to find yourself in! ER's are meant for emergencies not for chronic illnesses! Health care reform must pass!

We went through the same thing with my 38-year-old son with Progressive MS and no insurance. This is a national tragedy! How can anyone who says they are compassionate and care about humanity be against health care for all? Death panels are out there right now, they have been for a very long time!

:argh:

[Ilsa]

1. MS is a "preexisting condition", they'll argue, because it is genetic.

So he probably is uninsurable under current standards. Good luck with both situations. It sucks. We need national healthcare now.

[1776Forever]

2. I must admit I never knew MS can cause brain and kidney atrophy.

Unfortunately my son has this type and he is battling it daily. I have 4 other sons who do not have this illness thank God. I don't think they have determined if MS is genetic or not in all forms. Some people have mild forms and others have very chronic issues. It is as you said though something that I am sure the insurance companies would fight NOT to insure!

[intheflow]

3. MS is not considred a hereditary disease.

It has been linked to certain genetic factors, but no more so than environmental factors or infection.

[Ilsa]

4. Thanks for the info. nt

[intheflow]

5. My sister passed away from MS a few years ago.

I keep pretty close tabs on the medical research on it now.

[1776Forever]

6. Here is some current legislation I have been supporting - please do the same:

H.R. 1362, the National MS and Parkinson's Disease Registries Act.

http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-1362

Representative Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) introduced H.R. 1362 on March 5, 2009. This legislation would create MS and Parkinson's disease registries to collect, store and use data for research on these diseases. It was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce for further consideration.

[intheflow]

12. Why was this referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce?

That seems fairly bizarre. Why not a committee working on health issues?

[1776Forever]

15. From what I understand things like this happen all the time. They have to "stick" it where they can

I agree it is weird!:shrug:

[Critters2]

19. Commerce=business.

This has to do with insurance, a business enterprise if ever there were one.

[Posteritatis]

14. They're actually explicitly forbidden from looking at genes wrt coverage now

One of the few genuinely good laws passed under Bush.

Of course, the question is how often they'll adhere to it...

[texastoast]

7. Tell her to go to Ben Taub

It's our best trauma hospital, but it might be a while before she can get help for a non-trauma situation.

[1776Forever]

8. Thank you - I will do this today!

:hi:

[Doctor_J]

9. Remember the end of Sicko?

The for-profit hospital in LA was hiring cabs to take the indigents to "poor care" facility when they ran out of money.

Just keep repeating the Limpballs Mantra - "The US has the best health care in the world"

[1776Forever]

21. Exactly - You can't pay us the thousands so get out! You could call them concentration camps for

the chronically ill couldn't you?

Sicko for sure!

:freak:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

10. How bad are the deficits from her stroke?

What was the heart condition that caused the stroke? Atrial Fibrillation?

[1776Forever]

11. I am not near her but I know she said she has trouble moving her hand & arm

and they found 2 "growths" on her brain and abnormal heart issues. She had very intense headaches too a couple of weeks before this happen. She said she thought it would pass but it did not go away. That is all I know right now.

[Name removed]

13. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. 
[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
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[1776Forever]

16. Update: We just talked to her & she said they have got the Missouri State AG on it.

And her Dad is talking to the trucking company which I won't name now but I might in the future if it goes to litigation. Let's hope they can get this settled but still she could have really suffered terribly from being pushed out of the hospital!

[onestepforward]

18. I wish her all the best and hope she will get the care she needs. n/t

[cpompilo]

17. We need health care for all NOW

What a travesty. Nothing like getting kicked out of the hospital when you are ill, sick and scared.
For your son with MS, please have him look at low dose naltrexone - many people with MS report that it halts the progression and some find relief. www.LowDoseNaltrexone.org MS is an auto-immune disease.

[1776Forever]

23. Agreed! Thank you for the post and information - Blessings!

:fistbump:

[malaise]

20. Also send info to KO, Rachel

and Ed Shultz

[1776Forever]

22. Thank you - will do!

:fistbump:

[Monk06]

24. It's not just that private health insurance is expensive or the 40 Million are uninsured

The real scandal is that even if you have
insurance the insurance company can deny
the treatment benefits that you paid good
money for.

That's why Universal Single Payer will only
work if the Insurance Companies are prevented
from having any veto power over treatment.

The preexisting conditions excuse for denying
coverage is a patent fraud. Everyone has some
'preexisting condition' if they have not been
diagnosed and once diagnosed the 'preexisting
condition' disqualifies you. This is a vapid
excuse, completely circular and arbitrary.

It amounts to saying if you make a claim then
we will deny you coverage. That is simply
fraudulent evasion of a contractual obligation.

[marew]

25. I just do not understand this lack of compassion!

I had lunch with a couple of friends today and none of us are wealthy, not by a long shot. But all of us agreed we WOULD be willing to pay some additional taxes to help pay for health care for everyone. The arrogance of the Republicans is just plain immoral.

[1776Forever]

28. Doesn't it make one wonder how the "right" can be so "wrong" on this?

Health care for all and the right health care, one that is progressive and not a band aid, is what is needed NOW!

Thank you!:fistbump:

[nashville_brook]

29. for what most people pay for insurance, if that money were going to into a single payer pool

we'd have the best system in the world.

[Jim Lane]

26. Try to get the Department of Insurance on it

I'm glad to see, from your update, that the State AG is on it, but you should also contact the Missouri Department of Insurance (see for information). In my experience (other states), the Department of Insurance directly regulates insurers operating in the state. It can fine them, order specific relief for an insured, or exercise other powers that might be difficult or impossible for the AG to invoke.

Good luck!

[1776Forever]

27. Thank you so much for your time & info - I have passed it on!

:fistbump: