I have a lot of conservative friends that oppose health-care reform. I’m in support of it, with this example: Your mom isn’t old enough for Medicare, and she has a stroke. Are you gonna cover her dead ass (obviously I have family issues)? Yeah, I’m starting to lean more to the conservative side on other issues, but this isn’t a political post, so shut the hell up about my politics. I’m Dutch. We have a genetic political position. I don’t care if you have sex with barnyard animals as long as I don’t have to pay for it.
But in case you DO support health-care reform, let me give you this warning tale. I was seen at UW Medical Center for my neuropathy and tremors. Now, they wanted me to register with my insurance so they could tie it in to my appointment, so I registered with GEHA, my employer-provided insurance company. Let me repeat, corporate insurance, provided by my employer.
So the next day I get this call and a lady tells me “Mr. Huster? I’m working out the registration between your visit yesterday and your insurance company, but you’re only authorized for Medicare-A.”
“What?!!?”
“You’re only authorized for Medicare-A.”
“I have a Medicare-A account?”
“Yes sir.”
“How the hell did I get a Medicare-A account?!?”
“Well, when your 65 or older you only qualify for Medicare-A.”
“I’M NOT 65!!!!”
“You’re not?”
“Jesus Christ lady! I’m only 47!!”
“You are?”
“#@$!!!. Why would I say that if I wasn’t!!!”
“Oh, let me look…………………… oh, it looks like they gave me the wrong account number.”
“Jesus, Mary and Joseph, woman…”
(sound of Jack wetting his pants while he thinks about what the hell happened to HIS records)
If this is what happens with private sector insurance, think about what it’ll be like when the government takes over.
Tags: insurance, Medicare, patient records, UW Medical Center