Boo Hoo

I really hate to dwell much more on the problems of our healthcare system, and I promise after this, I will move on.  We all know the seriousness of the insidiousness.  However, it's a big part of my life right now, and I have a couple of observations.

On a positive side, I applaud companies like Kaiser Permanente, or at least their marketing department, for promoting a fun, pro-active health image through their campaign "Thrive."  I have friends that work there and others who are insured with them, and they all seem very happy.

I've been consulting with a friend on a couple of events for another healthcare company who also is beginning an internal colorful "Pro-Fit = Profit" campaign.  Some companies (hopefully) are getting it.

I compare this to a "what-if" theory that the IRS would actually consult taxpayers upfront rather than to attack and kill after the fact.  Imagine the government taking a pro-active approach.

Sadly, most health insurance companies are now taking a governmental attitude towards their customers.  Even the term "customer" is not appropriate.  We are their circus animals, performing as they instruct.  A customer at Macy's, or even with other types of insurance, can easily take his/her business elsewhere.  Not with health insurance.  For me, I am stuck in the three-ring agony of their discipline.

I lay in bed and dream of a person at Health Net who would say to me on the telephone, "I know this is a difficult time for you.  How can I help you?  I see that your doctor has ordered a CT Scan. Let me see what I can do to get that approved."

Instead, this is reality.

"Why do you need a CT Scan?!"  (As if I'm asking for tickets to Disneyland.)

"Oh I don't know.  I need artwork in my living room, and I thought a transparent black and white image of my cloudy lungs might be just the thing to perk up the feng shui."

As much as I make light of the situation, it really has been a serious problem.  Knowing I had no time to argue because I needed to keep my chemotherapy on schedule, they switched me to an HMO and reassigned a new, cheaper oncologist.  They told me that somewhere in the fine print of my policy it says, "PPO, except for cancer."

At any rate, I'm blessed that I have coverage.  Many don't.  It's a broken system that will require minds much greater than mine to repair it (and other minds to approve it).  I trust that someday someone will hear, "How is it that I can help you?"

I'm folding up my soapbox and enthusiastically compiling a list of the best lunch suggestions I received.  A much happier subject to think about.