Coverage

Let me offer myself as an object lesson in a teeny tiny slice of the healthcare debate and why even those who have employer-coverage should take heed of Martin Niemoeller’s warning.

In my new job as a tutor to underserved community college comp and ESL students, I find myself a member of  underpayed, bennie-less America. For this reason, several months ago I initiated a search to find affordable health insurance.

Actually “affordable health insurance” becomes more oxymoronic by the minute and age bracket. But ranting at I-Got-Mine Republicans and How-Could-You?! Dems appears futile these days.

The best, or at least the most comprehensive “product” my agent finds is from a spiritually suggestive organization called Lumenos, a Anthem Blue Cross company. The brochure/worksheet suggests I can expect to pay premiums of $256/month with a $2500 before-we-cover-anything deductible. This information is imparted in a PDF peopled with smiling multiracial individuals delighted to take charge of their own HSAs. The FAQs fail to address specific details about anything remotely specific like what's-not-covered-in-general before I even consider what's not-covered-before-I-reach-the-$2500 deductible. To apply, I must sign off on the release of my last five years of medical records.

For those who don't know me, I am slender, a daily exerciser, non-smoker, no drugs or ailments. But when my no-longer-estimated-but-actual premium is revealed, many weeks and phone calls later, my rate has increased 20% because I am considered a “standard,” as opposed to “preferred” risk. This is apparently because of a statin I took years ago to lower my blood cholesterol which was never high to begin with, but which when the pharm companies realized they weren’t selling enough of, they lowered the threshold on.

In addition, I was charged $62 for copying the 56 pages of medical records that comprise the five years of records used to uptick my premiums. The bill came from a copying company in Atlanta (what!) that apparently is subcontracted by my physician’s office (how could you!) to do the copying. According to the invoice, several pages cost more than $2.80/page, and none cost less that 59 cents. (Extortion!) When I complained to a rep at the Atlanta company, she referred me to my physician’s office. When I complained to my physician’s office, I was told by the phone answerer (who wouldn’t give her name citing HIPPA regulations!) that I signed a release knowing there might be a fee for copying medical records. Yes, I said, but I HAD to sign and when I asked what the fee might be I was told "we won't know until we do it." Even at my non-bennie offering community college, I continued, one’s first 250 pages of copies are free, and additional pages cost 4 cents apiece. Four cents times 56 pages equals $2.24. According to the Atlanta rep, the amount charged is fair and “regulated by law.” According to my physicians’ office rep, it’s not their problem.

Based on the hourly fee I make at the no-bennies-offered community college, I calculate I need to work 385 hours to cover my health care costs this year. And really I need to work more than 385 hours because that’s gross, not net of taxes and other withholdings. Nor does it cover the Not Covereds like surprise $62 copying charges.

That’s outrageous. And apparently well within what’s “regulated by law” by I-Got-Mine Republicans and To-Think-I-Thought-You-Were-On-My-Side?!! Dems.

First they came for the poor and old and I wasn't poor and old. Then they came for people who worked for small businesses and I didn’t work for  a small businesses. Then they came for the temps and I wasn’t a temp. But watch out, pretty soon we all may be.