Jennifer Wittney Horton: Make Them Keep That Promise

Today, the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled "Terminations of Individual Health Policies by Insurance Companies." The hearing examined the practice of "post-claims underwriting," which occurs when insurance companies cancel individual health insurance policies after providers submit claims for medical services rendered.

Jennifer Wittney Horton testified:
When Blue Cross cancelled my coverage, I had no idea what rescission meant. But now, after my life has been turned upside down for the past four years, Ive come to understand what a despicable practice it is. Insurance companies require you to fill out an application that is deliberately confusing. And, they dont do anything to make sure you understood the questions, or that you supplied all the information they need to decide whether they want to insure you or not. They just accept you, and accept your premium checks. Its after you see a doctor that everything changes. When your doctors file claims, the insurance company starts looks for reasons not to pay them. They dig through your medical records and compare what they find to the information you put down on the application. Its called post-claims underwriting. And, in California, where I live, its illegal. But insurers ignore the law. And when they find a discrepancy or an omission, they rescind the policy, and refuse to pay any of your medical bills even for routine treatment, or treatment they previously authorized.

...

If insurance companies are not prevented from canceling or restricting coverage after patients get sick, insurance policies are not worth the paper they are printed on. Insurance companies are making record profits by collecting premiums in exchange for the promises they make to be there when people need them. Make them keep that promise.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Rescission Practices
• Health Care

[nohealthcare62]

Hey Jennifer they Dropped me after 17 years of paying $7500 ! I ahd cancer they dropped me like a HOT POTATO!!!

[nohealthcare62]

I had BCBS of Tn @17 yrs I paid $7500 a yr I only used it in the 17th year I had to beg 6 months to remove my cancer after many drugs VIOXX and then Liquid Narcotics They CANCELLED me after the operation I have CANCER AGAIN ! Help Me OBAMA !! Why I voted for YOU !!!

[RETIREMESOON]

In Canada the Government spent 1 million $ dollars $ on my father over 10 years due to brain tumors.

People do __NOT__go broke in Canada due to illness :0)

I have been out of work for 3 years and I have aplastic card that ensures me FREE HEALTH CARE. :0)

Our doctors do __NOT__ have to fight with scam insurance companies to save our lives.

In the movie "SICKO" I saw the IMMORAL health insurance scams that kill 18,000 americans every years.

THIS IS AN EVIL that Americans face :0(

[MustLovePoop]

fuck you cancer

[onlyrey]

The health care system in the US completely sucks. I don't know how some say it is "the best in the world". Those who say that maybe never get sick, or completely ignore the truth.

[teaandtheatre]

Call and tell them: Enough!

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

901 S. Central Expressway

Richardson, Texas 75080

General Information: (972) 766-6900