Breast Cancer Patients Targeted By Insurance Companies
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Breast Cancer Patients Targeted By Insurance Companies
posted by: Jessica Pieklo 10 hours ago
Just when you thought the health insurance industry couldn't get any sleazier comes news from Reuters that the insurance company WellPoint, who insures some 33.7 million people has set up computer algorithms that automatically target their policy holders as soon as they receive a breast cancer diagnosis. Once targeted by the algorithm, WellPoint flagged those policyholders for fraud and looked for any way to rescind coverage. The result has been tens of thousands of Americans losing health insurance shortly after being diagnosed with a life-threatening, expensive medical condition. The practice has been documented by law enforcement agencies, state regulators, but as of today, nothing has changed the practice.
In the health care reform legislation recently passed, President Obama promised an end to the practice of rescission, but it remains unclear as to whether or not that will come to pass. The final version of the bill failed to contain any real regulatory or oversight of insurance industry practices, though the law gives power to the Department of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations on the industry. And since those proposed regulations have not been announced yet, there's still room to hope that the practice gets regulated out of existence.
This report comes right after the insurance company was called on by California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poziner to justify a proposed 39% premium increase for individual policy holders. More shocking still, CEO Angela Braly's overall compensation rose to $13.1 million as a result of additional stock options and a performance bonus. This represents an overall jump in compensation of 51%.
At a time when most Americans are struggling to keep their homes, and a major medical illness remains the single greatest bankruptcy threat to many households, this kind of behavior is simply inexcusable. According to the Reuters report, WellPoint's aggressive targeting of breast cancer diagnoses resulted in claims being cancelled based on flimsy or erroneous information.
Outraged by this kind of conduct? Well, here's how you can let WellPoint know. And make sure and let state and federal regulators know that mandatory third-party review of policy rescissions is a must. The insurance industry has proven time and time again that it has absolutely no ability to regulate itself and treat its customers in a fair and humane manner. They deserve no benefit of the doubt, no credit, and certainly no leniency on this issue
In the health care reform legislation recently passed, President Obama promised an end to the practice of rescission, but it remains unclear as to whether or not that will come to pass. The final version of the bill failed to contain any real regulatory or oversight of insurance industry practices, though the law gives power to the Department of Health and Human Services to promulgate regulations on the industry. And since those proposed regulations have not been announced yet, there's still room to hope that the practice gets regulated out of existence.
This report comes right after the insurance company was called on by California Insurance Commissioner Steve Poziner to justify a proposed 39% premium increase for individual policy holders. More shocking still, CEO Angela Braly's overall compensation rose to $13.1 million as a result of additional stock options and a performance bonus. This represents an overall jump in compensation of 51%.
At a time when most Americans are struggling to keep their homes, and a major medical illness remains the single greatest bankruptcy threat to many households, this kind of behavior is simply inexcusable. According to the Reuters report, WellPoint's aggressive targeting of breast cancer diagnoses resulted in claims being cancelled based on flimsy or erroneous information.
Outraged by this kind of conduct? Well, here's how you can let WellPoint know. And make sure and let state and federal regulators know that mandatory third-party review of policy rescissions is a must. The insurance industry has proven time and time again that it has absolutely no ability to regulate itself and treat its customers in a fair and humane manner. They deserve no benefit of the doubt, no credit, and certainly no leniency on this issue
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