Okay, personal example of PRESENT rationing of healthcare. Due to acid-reflux I recently started having pretty severe stomach and esophagus bleedings and I went to my doctor who referred me to undergo an endoscopy, which the normal thing to happen in cases like mine.
In the grand scheme of things, this is a relatively mild, but impacting affliction that appears easily and cheaply treated.
I was prescribed expensive medication for my condition, but in coordination with my doctor I decided to make do with over-the-counter identical off-brand meds that work just as well and are cheaper than my co-pay, so I applied my due diligence and frugality in that respect.
All cleared up, and now I know how avoid future problems of that nature.
Good outcome for all except that my healthcare insurance (MEDICA) promptly denied coverage for the $925 in procedures that consisted of the actual endoscopy and the following tissue-sample pathology determination.
I received a PRE-EX (Read: pre-existing condition) letter in which I was to specify the prescribed medications that I had taken in the six months prior to my current coverage. There were none that are relevant to this problem.
This is an blatant attempt by the so-called insurance company to deny to me, now and forever, coverage for common and widely accepted procedures that have to do with a commonly occurring and easily and cheaply treatable affliction that would otherwise and if left untreated, would leave me diminished in health, vigor and productivity.
Understand me correctly:
I do not like to undergo these procedures and I have never overused the medical system. They are uncomfortable and are impacting my already rather hectic schedule.
This was my very first claim against a health-insurance that I duly pay a significant amount for and that I am current in payments with.
Read me right here: These are NOT elective procedures and my doctor properly referred me based on medical grounds, but some pencil-neck bean-counter finds it expedient to deny me coverage based on the so-called insurance company's bottom-line and on that bottom-line alone.
This is a prime example of the routine practices of the Medical Maffia at work, and that is exactly one of the things that Health-Care reform MUST STOP!