16 Arrested at Aetna for Demanding Healthcare

[davidswanson]

Sixteen people were arrested this morning at 99 Park Ave in New York City for entering the lobby of the health insurance company Aetna and demanding that Aetna stop denying healthcare approved by doctors. This was the beginning of a campaign in which over 300 people have committed to nonviolently risking arrest:

On September 29th in New York City, October 8th in Chicago, and in cities across the country on October 15th, over 100 people who have signed this pledge will put our bodies on the line to challenge the real death panels.

We will enter the offices of the major insurance companies and demand that they cover the care they are denying to their members. We won't leave until they do. The companies will have to decide - admit they're wrong and approve the care, or have us arrested and show the world how far they will go to protect their obscene profits. If we're arrested, some of us will even refuse to give our names and be released until the insurance companies meet our demand.

We hope that our actions will save the lives of some of the people who are being denied critical care by these death panels today. But we know we can save the lives of millions in the years to come by putting a spotlight on just why our system is broken and how urgently we need fundamental change. We will go to jail to demand that the insurance companies stop denying care to their members immediately, but our sacrifice will be a call to our entire nation to stand up to these death panels and demand real reform - Medicare for All - that finally ensures that every one of us gets the health care we need.

You can let Aetna know what you think at [phone] or [phone] Toll Free.

[wroberts189]

1. Jesus I wake up this morning and this place is full of KNR's knr nt

[BonnieJW]

2. These are very brave people.

I believe that if I or someone in my immediate family was denied essential health care, I would be doing the same thing. What a terrible reason to die! Death by apathy.

[UndertheOcean]

3. I can only recommend this

[laughingliberal]

4. Kick nt

[Greyhound]

5. K&R. I hope it works. n/t

[glinda]

6. The question is "Why haven't the Insurance Companies all been brought to Court"?

Why are these people not charged with fraud and other various allegations. They should be the ones that should face charges.

[sohndrsmith]

14. it's called "fine print". There is no way they do not cover and insure themselves against

such 'negative variances'....

Huh. "cover" .... "insure"... if it weren't deadly it would be curiously ironic. You can't get significant services, things, loans, care, etc. unless you sign something that proves you agree with it. If you don't sign, you don't get whatever it is you want - or need. It always seems like blackmail, especially when there are demands, restrictions or requirements in very, very small print that you are not afforded time to consider (much less read) or provided with knowledgeable, adequate answers if you do have the luxury of being able to ask questions.

To add insult to injury, most "small print" is worded in such a way so as to be as vague and confusing as possible for anyone without a superior law degree.

The minute we provide our signatures, we eliminate our ability to complain, much less seek damages.

THIS is something, too, (after we fix health care - if we can) that needs reform. We're basically agreeing to powerlessness when we truly are wronged. Or even when premiums, fees or charges get hiked suddenly.... we signed something that said we're okay with that. It's rather sickening, when the concept of contractual protection makes a ton of sense. But it's' sickening - only because it's abused, and abused rampantly.

That's my guess, anyway... Though if there was a surge of class action lawsuits unmatched in volume, number and size - it might make legislators notice - or at least look up from their own campaign fund coffers...

I'd love to see every single member of the Senate/House be anonymously matched with an individual struggling with health care costs/issues/denial, etc. and have to not only go through every process with them, but be required to accept the same health coverage themselves. They might stop thinking of this in terms of "fiscal" soundness, (which is a farce, anyway, because the people suffering and losing are the very people these big corporations ultimately rely on. They just don't get that yet).

[glinda]

16. I think every member should have to spend a whole day with someone who might die or is

so poor they can barely buy food or is looking for work all day long. I think these people do not know what reality is.

[sohndrsmith]

18. I wholeheartedly agree. How many of them would sign on the dotted

line for "insurance" of equivalent care for themselves? None. It seems like they really do need such a dose of reality... at least on some meaningful level.

Paying for insurance is supposed to *insure* you against financial and/or medical destruction because of accident or illness, right? If people are buying insurance under this premise, it certainly seems like few if any are truly getting "insured".

I assume people buying insurance also expect, through this "insurance" - something called "coverage". For.... what? How many people who have and/or pay for "coverage" actually receive coverage?

I think these nitwits should be denied Medicare for a while - and see how that works for them.

I wish I had the knowledge and skill to organize something that would provide a single place that people could contribute letters, videos, images, etc. describing their health care crises - all of which would be delivered to our law-makers, federal agencies, or to whomever the receipt of which would be most effective) Every. Single. Day. Somehow, these people need to be given the ability to see the human individuals and families.... the real lives that never touch them - directly.

I wish there was some way for these privileged people to see hours and hours of what lives are really like, each day. It would be more useful than their debating this as some theoretical concept while, sadly, many of them are probably slaves to the money they receive from insurance and pharmaceutical powerhouses. Rather than have them waste their time "legislating" something they don't understand, I wish we could demand that they contribute half of their salaries, campaign donations, fund-raising "takes" to the people who NEED medical care. Now.

[marmar]

7. As an (unfortunate) Aetna client through my employer, I say.....

POWER TO THE PROTESTERS!!!! Next time burn that bee-yotch down!

[Dawson Leery]

8. Yet these tea parties are inciting violence and no one is arrested.

[Echo In Light]

22. By Establishment jive, that's "Uniquely American, Inc."

[sohndrsmith]

9. From Aetna's website - their "Mission Statement"... (um, really?):

By the way - I commend this and any such action. I think this may need to have to happen on a large scale and for a long time... Sadly, because of the evils of "fine print" probably make effective class action suits useless. Shouldn't be, though - people are paying for insurance and coverage and they are getting neither.

Apologies in advance - I tried to make this as readable as possible and I think I failed. If you agree, just skip to the link below and read it from the Aetna website. (Note: I've made comments - couldn't resist. My comments are in italics).


Home > About Aetna > Aetna Mission & Values

Aetna Mission & Values

Our company’s mission, values and goals are expressed through The Aetna Way. The Aetna Way, comprising the elements below, encompasses our shared sense of purpose and provides clarity as we pursue our operational and strategic goals:

* Why We Exist: The Aetna Mission
* What We Believe In: Our Values
* What We’re Trying to Achieve
* How We Run Our Business

Why We Exist: The Aetna Mission

Aetna is dedicated to helping people achieve health and financial security by providing easy access to safe, cost-effective, high-quality health care and protecting their finances against health-related risks.

Building on our 150-year heritage, Aetna will be a leader cooperating with doctors and hospitals, employers, patients, public officials and others to build a stronger, more effective health care system.

What We Believe In: Our Values

At Aetna, we put the people who use our services at the center of everything we do and live by a core set of values:

* Integrity
* Quality Service and Value
* Excellence and Accountability
* Employee Engagement

What We’re Trying to Achieve
We seek to achieve superior customer satisfaction through innovative products, comprehensive health and related benefits choices, effective service and easy-to-understand information.

Our goals are:

* To give individuals and families affordable coverage choices, helpful service and information so they get the financial protection and health care they need - from prevention through chronic and critical care.

* To respect and work effectively with doctors and hospitals by establishing efficient processes and providing prompt claims payments and useful information that helps them provide safe, cost-effective, high-quality health care.

* To provide employers advice, cost-effective benefits choices and programs that improve the health status and productivity of their work forces.
(My comment: This is actually consistent - sort of. Getting rid of/denying "affordable coverage" - see above - for employees with health problems is the main goal, apparently)

* To partner with brokers and consultants through responsive service, timely information and attractive commissions so they may effectively advise employers on their benefits choices.
(My comment: "Brokers and consultants" paid via "attractive commissions", are, in other words - salesmen, I'm guessing. I wonder how many have MDs instead of MBAs? It's not specified here, but I'm skeptical that any of this has to do with medically advisable considerations of a loyal workforce, for whom true, preventative health care benefits would serve the employer long term, no?)

* To offer employees an engaging and diverse work environment that permits them to satisfy their professional ambitions, take pride in their contributions and share in Aetna's success.
(My comment: Wonder how good the lower end of the "diverse" work environment's health benefits are - or what their policies are regarding pre-existing conditions for them... hm... )

* To be a leading corporate citizen, improving the quality of life in communities where we live and work.
(My comment: Translation - make money, improve OUR (meaning Aetna's top level corporate big guys) quality of life with huge salaries and expensive homes - and, of course - contributing to political campaigns/efforts/etc., that maintain OUR standard of living - good grief - this one is ugly. I guess that's just capitalism, though, isn't it? Not particularly ugly if people's very lives weren't at stake because of the type of company or services they purport to provide.)

* To award shareholders a superior return on their investment in our company.
(My comment: "Superior"? Is that the same "superior", by definition, they use under the heading of "What We're 'Trying' To Achieve"? Apparently, what they're "trying" to achieve is separate from their goals. I guess when defined by the word "trying", that's enough of a loophole in itself to mean, "Well, we might not do these things unless we benefit." ).

How We Run Our Business

Based on our values, which guide our day-to-day activities, we adhere to specific business practices that help us fulfill our mission, reach our goals, and achieve profitable growth.

* Plans: We build and monitor business plans, taking corrective actions on negative variances.
(My comment: "negative variances"?.... Um... What? Hey Kids! Guess what "Negative Variances" are!? It's a fancy word for people who get sick or injured! Which is BAD BAD BAD for the business plan. Now, guess what they mean by, "Corrective Action"!?)
* Products: We develop and accurately price innovative products.
* Networks: We develop and manage networks of doctors and hospitals to support multiple product and funding choices.
* Access to Care: We provide our members access to cost-effective high-quality health care while accurately predicating and managing medical costs.
* Claims and Billing: We achieve timely and accurate claims payments and premium billing and collection.
(My comment: What is "premium billing and collection"?)
* Productivity: We pursue continuous productive and process improvement.
* Service: We work together effectively cross the organization to give our customers quality service.
(My comment: At least they admit that their just a business - with customers. That they call 'members' because it sounds nicer, maybe?)
* Information: We provide objective information to help our members make informed decisions about heir financial and health care needs.
(My comment: Translation of "objective" - means they don't care one way or another what happens to you if their 'information' results in your worsening health, death, debt, foreclosure and the like. Very objective.)
* Integrity: Achieve financial and operational integrity through clear, prompt and reliable information that accurately reflects our financial and operational performance.
(My comment: HUH? They're kidding with this spin sentence - right? They define "integrity" in financial and 'operational' terms. What could 'operational' mean other than 'financial'?
* Rewards: We appreciate effort butwe recognize and reward employees for achieving business results. My Comment: WOW. Just bloody WOW... )
* Satisfaction: We deliver superior customer satisfaction.
(My comment: By "customer" they are referring to the investing-type of customer, perhaps? Or do they mean 'members'? Or... ?)

http://www.aetna.com/aboutaetna/missionandvalues.htm#mission

[tigereye]

10. that's the way to do it! Good for them.

[ScreamingMeemie]

11. I just spent 3 days ( I kid you not) filling out the health questionaire for

Aetna because they were the cheapest individual family plan for me and my son. I was afraid that if I didn't mention the appendectomy in '96, they wouldn't cover me. They want every doctor, every number, every illness...down to ankle sprains. I find myself thinking that we will be denied.

[sohndrsmith]

17. looks like a true Catch-22, doesn't it. You forget something - anything

and you could be denied. You include anything -everything, and you could be denied. They have you by the short hairs and it seems like what they do is look at your financial "health", debt, credit, etc. and then determine whether or not you're one of the lucky ones. Still, there is no guarantee that should something catastrophic happen they won't shut you out, is there?

Is there ANY fine print on the forms you haven't read or don't understand? Fine print is a serious scourge. It's basically blackmail - or - license to whatever company you're buying services from to say "no matter what, you can't sue me for damages and I can change the fees, limitations, requirements, etc. at any time, for any reason, and your signature proves you agree to let me do so. Nyah, nyah, nyah." I swear, if the print were larger, you'd probably be able to see the "nyahs". : )

I keep wondering about misdiagnoses, too. How is one supposed to handle that - much less prove it either way?

Isn't there a 10 year limit they can't go beyond? People are not perfect - I have no idea who some of my doctors were years ago, much less how to access my records!

Not only am I concerned about having to list misdiagnosed (or undiagnosed) medical events in one's history, but why is it necessary to include one-time injuries or issues (like a sprain) that have been resolved or cured? Regarding "pre-existing" conditions - you're supposed to have had uninterrupted coverage, but you aren't supposed to have sought treatment for any specific condition during a specific period of time prior to applying for insurance? Or do I have that wrong? If not - they actually WANT you to be sicker by not having a record of being treated for something (many chronic conditions are managed successfully - and ensure your improved health - terminating maintenance treatment could be detrimental to your health, work, everything).

We really seem to be on the wrong track - or rather the Financial Committee (?) does. They don't have a clue. Neither do I, obviously, because I don't know why we have accepted this for so long - having our lives and health determined by some company's sense of profit. It's not that we don't have "access" - we do! We go to a doctor, and the doctor (who has likely gone to medical school and knows more about what we need than a sales or policy rep) recommends a course of treatment, prescribes medicine and/or tests........which we can or cannot follow based on what our insurance company says is valid, covered, denied.... so a financial entity determines our health treatment - NOT our doctors.

You'd think the questionnaire you have to fill out would focus more on your access and use to preventative care (check ups, prenatal care, well-woman, even specialist assessment for something that runs in your family...

I wish you good luck! I shouldn't have to - but I hope it all works out the way it should for you. Take care.

[HughMoran]

12. This will ratchet up to violence if someting isn't done soon

Insurance is soon to become something only rich people can afford. At $36,000/year for a family policy, I certainly can't afford it - 35% (my portion) of that is still too much for me to afford.

[951-Riverside]

13. This threat is being sponsored by Aetna

:rofl:

[madamesilverspurs]

15. Aetna

is the insurance company that pressured my brother's employer to fire him when they learned that his son had been diagnosed with cerebral palsey.

I have posted that to other threads, and will continue to do so where appropriate. Other companies might do the same, our experience is with Aetna. And they certainly aren't going to tell you about that kind of thing up front.

[sohndrsmith]

19. I'm so sorry. I wish your brother, his son and you all the best. n/t

[1776Forever]

20. This is scary to me because Defense Department Awarded TriCare North Contract to Aetna

Defense Department Awards Contracts to Aetna, UnitedHealth
JULY 13, 2009
By JOHN KELL

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124752281751735073.html

The U.S. Department of Defense awarded billion-dollar military health care contracts to Aetna Inc. and UnitedHealth Group Inc., ending an alliance with two of the health insurers' competitors.

Aetna was selected to take over the program in the North region, replacing Health Net Inc., while Humana Inc. was removed in the South by UnitedHealth following more than a year of government review.

Both Humana and Health Net hinted they may protest the decision, although the companies were waiting for further information.

Following the news, Health Net's shares slumped 19% to $11.50, while Humana fell 5.2% to $29.01. Meanwhile, Aetna's shares were up 2.5% to $26.99 and UnitedHealth's shares rose 2.6% to $25.65.

Some analysts have suggested the program means most to Health Net.

The TRICARE program, which provides civilian health benefits for military personnel, military retirees and their dependents, awarded a base contract of $2.48 billion to Aetna and $3.73 billion to UnitedHealth.

Aetna's total potential contract, including a 10-month base period and five one-year option periods was estimated at $16.68 billion. For UnitedHealth, the figure was estimated at $21.83 billion.

(more at link)

................

Time will tell if there is a problem with Aetna or not but I won't hesitate to let everyone know if there is!

:shrug:

[paparush]

21. Good! Keep ratcheting up the pressure. We need to keep awakening common folks

who've been duped by the Insurance/Pharma Billionaires Misinfomration Campaign (tm).

[Orwellian_Ghost]

23. Rec

[flamingdem]

24. Time to scream loudly nt