From the New York Times:
But Mr. Reischauer said, “A glaring problem with the president’s plan is that he did not call for any stronger regulation of the individual insurance market.” In that market as it now exists in most states, insurers can deny coverage or charge higher rates to sick people.
Because I have had doctor-prescribed antacids in the last five years, I cannot get private health insurance. I get it through my employer, or I’d be eligible for the state-regulated (and much more expensive) insurance plan. If neither of those existed, I’d be utterly fucked.
Which is what Bush can go get, unless he fixes this problem first. Which he won’t.
Every now and then I get ear infections. I hadn’t had one since I was a toddler until I went swimming in Green Bay about ten years ago. I was told by my previous insurance company that this would not be covered as it was a pre-existing condition. I was trying to get coverage so I could get this problem fixed for good.
End result: They won and I got much better insurance with my new day job. I should really make that appointment.
In a related topic, I find that eating elephantine amounts of green vegetable makes heartburn foods like pizza easier to eat.
Comment by Chuckles — 01.29.2007 @ 12:16 pm
Chuckles,
Hilariously, in Oregon, insurance companies aren’t allowed to exclude pre-existing conditions. So instead they exclude people with pre-existing conditions. Much better.
Comment by Auguste — 01.29.2007 @ 12:55 pm
I may be a genius, but I had to read your comment three times before I got it.
In Oregon, you have all that clean-ish air and that really cool plant that looks like a huge clover and tastes like an orange and gives you 500% of your daily vitamin C if you chew a few leaves. They tell me that vitamin C keeps you healthy.
Comment by Chuckles — 01.30.2007 @ 9:05 am