Can falling between the cracks of health insurance still happen?

[question everything]

I've recently found the heart wrenching post of MedicalAdmin detailing how he was dying for lack of insurance.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002252691

Rather, he had insurance, but when he was seriously injured in a car accident, none of the insurance carriers - his car, the other driver's car and his health - wanted to pay.

Eventually he lost his job and his health insurance and by the time he was diagnosed with cancer, it was too late.

Earlier this year I had a minor surgery and the first thing I received from my health insurance a form to fill about "the other party of my accident." That is, if the surgery was a result of an accident. I just wrote "not an accident" and sent it back.

But I shudder to think of being in a similar situation: when all the insurance companies pointing the finger at the others.

There is a Democratic candidate hoping to unseat the incumbent Republican at the House and, of course, wants my support and donation. There is a long list of what she hopes to do and I am tempted to send her a note (with my donation) about this issue.

For example, that all insurance companies put funds a central pool that will be used for exactly such a case as MedicalAdmin detailed (from Minnesota, by the way). To first operate on the person so s/he can return to work and continue to be covered. Though I suppose that now with the ACA one does not have to hold a job to be covered, but one has to have the ability to pay for the ACA. Also, to have a binding arbitration that will determine how the insurance companies involved cover the injuries, not just the miserable $2,000 that he said was offered.

What do you say?

[dflprincess]

1. I think that until we have single payer there will be people who fall through the cracks

and insurance companies will look for ways to weasel out of paying.

Though, when I broke my wrist last year my insurance company was pretty good. They had already paid a hefty ER bill and some of my office visits, it wasn't until the surgery bill showed up that I got the form about "was this an accident". I called in when I got it, pointing out my right arm was in a large cast (the first one right after surgery that leaves room for swelling) so they were content to take care of it over the phone and gave me no problems when I said it was only me practicing my "triple klutzes" (as my ever so clever cousin put it) that caused the break. (BTW I actually broke it when I missed a step, not ice skating.)

[geardaddy]

2. I remember him posting here.

I think people falling through the cracks will continue to happen until we have universal single payer health care.