Insurer targeted HIV patients to drop coverage

[foxfeet]

Fortis, now Assurant, ordered to pay $10 million for revoking policy


WASHINGTON - In May, 2002, Jerome Mitchell, a 17-year old college freshman from rural South Carolina, learned he had contracted HIV. The news, of course, was devastating, but Mitchell believed that he had one thing going for him: On his own initiative, in anticipation of his first year in college, he had purchased his own health insurance.

Shortly after his diagnosis, however, his insurance company, Fortis, revoked his policy. Mitchell was told that without further treatment his HIV would become full-blown AIDS within a year or two and he would most likely die within two years after that.

So he hired an attorney — not because he wanted to sue anyone; on the contrary, the shy African-American teenager expected his insurance was canceled by mistake and would be reinstated once he set the company straight.

more at: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35910173/ns/health-health_care/

[foxfeet]

1. Kick.

[BlueIris]

2. Kick. This is a disturbingly common phenomenon. nt

[LynneSin]

3. What the *#$@#? Aren't alot of the HIV medicine hitting generic form?

I know I'm not the most educated person when it comes to HIV, but I thought that as long as you are on your cocktail of medicines that you can live a pretty much normal life with HIV and never suffer thru full-blown AIDs.

[foxfeet]

6. Not many are generic yet.

In any event, there are often severe side effects, e.g. metabolic syndrome, diabetes, lipodystrophy, liver toxicity, etc.

[LynneSin]

7. This is my stupid question of the decade - how is Magic Johnson surviving after all this time

I do realize that he is the recipient of some of the best world class treatment of all time. But still I never hear him of having any kind of ill effects. Or perhaps he just keeps this stuff to himself instead of holding press releases everytime he gets a cough.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

13. Majic Johnson has HIV (not AIDS, yet).

He spends ALOT of money keeping it this way as well.
HIV is just a virus while AIDS is the life threatening codition.
HIV causes AIDS - one comes as a result of the other.

It also helps that he is Majic.

[LynneSin]

15. I know he has HIV

But everything I've read says HIV drugs only delay the AIDs for about 5-10 years. He's gone longer than that.

did I type AIDs? Probably a blonde moment on my part.

[Echo In Light]

4. Good to know these evil fucks will now play an even BIGGER role in "HC"

[Beetwasher]

5. Fortis, now Assurant, ordered to pay $10 million for revoking policy

Did you miss that part? And NOW the FEDERAL courts will get to rule on these cases and there will be MORE oversight.

When HCR passes, the above will ALSO BE A FEDERAL CRIME.

[PA Democrat]

8. A drop in the bucket compared to the profits to be made! The court settlement and subsequent fines

imposed by different states' regulatory agencies on this particular company have not stopped this practice. I know because I had to fight Assurant to get my cancer treatment covered 5 years AFTER this court decision.

They still flag any claims for catastrophic illness and start a "fraud" investigation. That's right, use your insurance and you immediately get investigated for fraud. I eventually won my case, but had I needed expensive ongoing treatment, it would have bankrupted my family before they were forced to pay for the services they were contractually obligated to pay for. The reason they used to justify my cancer as a preexisting condition would be laughable if the results were not potentially deadly.

Insurance companies will continue to cheat people out of actual health care as long as it remains profitable to do so. I have every confidence that the greedy pigs will continue to stay one step ahead of any regulator they have not managed to buy off.

[Beetwasher]

9. Wrong, Now There Will Be FEDERAL LAW AND THREAT OF

prosecution for violating federal law.

[PA Democrat]

10. There is existing state law and they have been prosecuted by states

and fined. The abuses continued.

In some states the abuses were ignored because the regulators were former insurance company executives.

I wish I could share your optimism.

[Beetwasher]

11. States With Shitty Enforcement Will NOW Have FEDERAL Oversight

Much like with civil rights. That's why it was important to get FEDERAL civil rights laws passed. Don't discount the threat of federal prosecutions in keeping people in line.

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

14. Bingo... just like thw Banks and the FED. Federal oversight is teh anzwer!

Oh... wait. :banghead:

[Beetwasher]

16. Just Because Enforcment WAS Shity Doesn't Mean It Will Continue To Be

Or maybe we should just forget about regulations and enforcment because it MIGHT be shitty.

Yeah, that's a good idea. Why even try? :eyes:

[OneTenthofOnePercent]

17. Just come out and say it...

You are HOPING that Federal level scrutiny will do jack shit to change the status quo.
That's all it is... a HOPE. FWIW, I hope so too but time and time again Federal level regulation doesn't seem to do it's job.

[Beetwasher]

18. Well, Let's Do Nothing! That Will Certainly Help!

Why pass any regulations? How stupid.

Even WITHOUT the Federal Regulations, this article shows ENFORCMENT. The Ins. Co. got fucked up by the court and that will now happen on a fed. level too.

[Blue_Tires]

12. that's why i've been in favor shutting down the "providers" from the start

[Vinca]

19. Criminal, evil, blood-sucking bastards . . . and now they're being rewarded

with millions of new victims.

[Bluebear]

20. Excellent, let's reward the insurance companies via a Democratic plan.

Shaking head.

[Blue_Tires]

21. ttt