Health Care Reform

I urge my senator, Mark Udall, to stay the course and support health care reform. I like the idea of a public option as I think it could possibly work to keep the insurance companies in check.

I also want to weigh in on the insurance companies. I have nothing good to say about them at all. I think, in general, insurance companies have no interest in having a happy and healthy population. I know there are many individuals who work in the insurance industry who are kind and wonderful people, but I also believe that employees are trained to do all they can to keep people from getting the care they need. I'm biased, but from my own experience, I think health insurance companies suck.

I've had a few negative experiences. In one case, I had an injury that the insurance company would not pay for for nine months. They came up with every excuse in the book to not process my claims. It wasn't until I actually called a lawyer that they did something about it. In fact, just one week after I threatened legal action, I received notices in the mail that they had paid all the bills. The billing person at the doctor's office told me that often insurance companies will put you off for a long time hoping that you will eventually just give up.

To people who are having problems with insurance companies: I urge you to not give up when your insurance company is stonewalling you. Call them, email them, send them letters, and keep copies of every piece of correspondence. And, make note every time you send them correspondence. Also, call a lawyer. The one I found offered me free advice, suggesting I call the insurance company to threaten a lawsuit. That was enough. Finally, if you have the chance, write your congressman/woman and tell him/her to support health care reform. Universal health care is not a terrible, evil practice. It is the only decent way of offering health care to every American.

Good luck!