it gets better

[mellowtigger]

Delivered in the mailbox this afternoon:

"... First Date of Service: 02/26/2010 ...
THIS IS A NOTICE OF DENIAL OF PAYMENT
Dear TERRY W WALKER
We reviewed the claim your provider sent us for Professional Medical Services - Lab / Diagnostic
The claim is denied because: this service is not covered in your benefit set.
This decision is based on MN law: 9505.0270, subp 10(DD)."

Joy.

It doesn't say what service is denied. I thought from the name that it was the bloodwork.  The date, however, suggests that it was the EMG testing.  Does this mean that the torture session was done on my own dollar?  Criminy, how would I even know what that costs?  The notice doesn't include a bill.  What dollar amount was not covered?

A separate paper includes instructions on how to appeal.  That page is densely worded "member rights" and "state fair hearing" info.

I despise bureaucracy.  Why doesn't the decision of the doctor determine what happens?  Why does it have to be any more complicated than that?  I really, really, really dislike the American health care system.

Comments

:o/

[otterlover01.livejournal.com]

...and to add insult to the offense it is signed "Joy". I loath bureaucracy too, as a matter of fact I have a kind of a true PHOBIA about it. Hope everything will work out well for you in the end anyway Terry. Big hugs, Luis.

[pi3832.livejournal.com]

"Individual freedom and personal choice, rooted in American values, provide principled health care, moral health care, and the best health care."(link (http://www.afcm.org/besthealthcare.html))

I was going to post something snarky, but then I found that quote, and now I can't help but think: "What the fuck is moral about the U.S. healthcare system?"

And "principled?" You know, if you just applied the "principle" of pure free market capitalism to our current healthcare system, it would get better. No, no, really. Preventive care is exponentially cheaper than reactive care. A smart factory owner would line up all the employees every year and shoot them full of every vaccine available. The company cafeteria would serve free, healthy meals. Indignant taxpayers should want to give welfarians good healthcare so that they are healthy enough to get and keep a job.

Etcetcetc. I need to go eat something--I get ranty when my blood sugar gets low.

---

One more rant:

I accidentally saw some TV news the other day, and some old, rich, white, fat, man actually had the gall to say, "We already have universal healthcare--it's called the Emergency Room!"

Really, really need to go eat. Much stop thinking about giving that guy an opportunity to experience our "universal coverage".

[iphy.livejournal.com]

Wow. That's terrible. My insurance sends me 'way too much' stuff and that in itself can sometimes make it difficult to tell what is going on; but if you put it all in order, it always says what they're talking about and how much money they're talking about.