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Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/26/2008 12:20:35 AM
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ljmac
Posts: 1320
Joined: 11/20/2006
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Sadly, Barbara Morgan's lung cancer has returned. Her doctor ordered chemotherapy. Her health insurance said no way, get out of here. We'll give you money for you to kill yourself, but not for chemotherapy.
"To say to someone, we'll pay for you to die, but not pay for you to live, it's cruel. I get angry. Who do they think they are?" They're your friendly state government in the land of Oregon where Jack Kevorkian's medical ethics have replaced the Hippocratic oath.
Fortunately for Barbara, the pharmaceutical company has agreed to give her the chemotherapy drug for free.
Barbara, there's a $10 co-pay before you kill yourself.
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RE: Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/26/2008 1:02:10 AM
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Kat_D
Posts: 3037
Joined: 9/2/2005
From: Where We Shake, Rattle & Roll!
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quote:
Fortunately for Barbara, the pharmaceutical company has agreed to give her the chemotherapy drug for free.
Well, that's great, now who's going to pay the costs to administer it?
As with most stories of this type, they don't give enough information or are biased and leave things out to get their side across or cause more sensationalism.
What this story doesn't mention is the stage of this woman's disease. If she has End Stage Metastatic Carcinoma and death is inevitable, another round of high cost chemo may only serve to add a short period (weeks) to her life and may do nothing to add to her quality of life. In that instance, many insurances would balk at paying for that type of treatment.
I like to get all the facts before I make a judgment, but that's just me! 
_____________________________
~Kat
"...And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes...no more death, sorrow, nor crying."
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RE: Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/26/2008 1:31:54 AM
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solo_soprano22
Posts: 2431
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From: I'm a Southern girl
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Yeah, I was wondering if there could possibly be medical futility here. BUT, I have seen companies deny things when people had a shot... I'm just saying sometimes if it's futile, they may refuse to pay too.
_____________________________
For God, For Learning, Forever.
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RE: Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/26/2008 1:35:48 PM
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backrowbaptist
Posts: 439
Joined: 6/7/2008
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ljmac
Sadly, Barbara Morgan's lung cancer has returned. Her doctor ordered chemotherapy. Her health insurance said no way, get out of here. We'll give you money for you to kill yourself, but not for chemotherapy.
Fortunately for Barbara, the pharmaceutical company has agreed to give her the chemotherapy drug for free.
Very sad, but like the article said, predictable with state-run health care. Anyone know what pharm. company came to her rescue? I'll buy stock in it.
My aunt recently passed away after a 2-year battle with malignant myloma. Up until her last day, her PRIVATE health insurance co. (Kaiser Permanente) paid for chemo., dialysis, everything, even though it was clear she was not going to make it.
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RE: Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/26/2008 2:21:41 PM
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backrowbaptist
Posts: 439
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thank you for the sentiment.
I've heard good and bad about Kaiser (it certainly did right by my aunt). But it's not state-run, which was my point. Enough people are satisfied with it to keep it in business. Those dissatisfied can go elsewhere, or their employers can. If we have universal health care, we won't have the options we have now.
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RE: Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/26/2008 2:26:39 PM
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GroupW
Posts: 2863
Joined: 11/16/2007
From: Up in the hills of Colorado (very BIG hills...)
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The background in this case is that the Oregon medical plan will pay only for palliative care if the patient has less than a 5% chance of living 5 more years. In this patient's case, the lung cancer is terminal and her life expectancy was less than the 5%/5 year standard. They would pay for any pain relieving or other palliative care, but not the chemotherapy drug.
The Oregon plan is a bit stingy in this regard and is underfunded compared to the need within that state. The Barbara Morgan case is not an isolated incident. That said, we Americans can't have it both ways. We want more and better care, even in end of life cases, but we generally vote in ways that reflect our desire not to have to pay for it.
There's no great answer to that dilemma. I know I don't have it. We all know the system we have needs to change, but I haven't heard a good idea yet on how exactly to do it.
This much I know - we're too rich a country to have to limit access to acceptable health care in this way.
< Message edited by GroupW -- 6/26/2008 2:33:10 PM >
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RE: Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/26/2008 5:03:02 PM
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ljmac
Posts: 1320
Joined: 11/20/2006
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quote:
ORIGINAL: GroupW
...There's no great answer to that dilemma. I know I don't have it. We all know the system we have needs to change, but I haven't heard a good idea yet on how exactly to do it...
Getting the government out of the suicide business would be a good start.
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RE: Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/26/2008 7:38:02 PM
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GroupW
Posts: 2863
Joined: 11/16/2007
From: Up in the hills of Colorado (very BIG hills...)
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quote:
ORIGINAL: ljmac
quote:
ORIGINAL: GroupW
...There's no great answer to that dilemma. I know I don't have it. We all know the system we have needs to change, but I haven't heard a good idea yet on how exactly to do it...
Getting the government out of the suicide business would be a good start.
I'd prefer to start on keeping people from getting to that point. Either way, it's not a great system and I have to think we can do better.
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RE: Go kill yourself - your health insurance - 6/27/2008 10:08:18 PM
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solo_soprano22
Posts: 2431
Joined: 4/27/2005
From: I'm a Southern girl
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quote:
The background in this case is that the Oregon medical plan will pay only for palliative care if the patient has less than a 5% chance of living 5 more years. In this patient's case, the lung cancer is terminal and her life expectancy was less than the 5%/5 year standard. They would pay for any pain relieving or other palliative care, but not the chemotherapy drug.
Hmm, I'm not sure what else I'd expect of them than palliative care if it's terminal. I suppose if I thought I still had a chance at beating the cancer, I might expect something from them. But, I can see if it's terminal and the patient wants to try to prolong life by using chemo. I just don't think insurance companies would fund that... I can see them funding just palliative care in that kind of case.
_____________________________
For God, For Learning, Forever.
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