Who’s the jerk?
Posted by Advocate Aaron on July 1, 2009 · Leave a Comment
The Senate could be voting on a health care reform plan as soon as July. At the same time, Massachusetts is discovering how easily the best laid plans o’ men can be foiled by unscrupulous business practices. A recent Boston Globe article highlights how Massachusetts’ health care system, touted since its inception as salvation to the people, has been exploited by insurance companies who take advantage of loopholes to deny coverage to those who need it (http://www.boston.com/business/healthcare/articles/2009/06/12/health_plans_may_fall_short_mass_says/).
As the article states, the companies are following the letter of the law if not the intent. The law requires prescription coverage – but it does not indicate limits, so insurance companies are placing caps on them. They’re also denying maternity coverage to dependents – so if your 17-year-old daughter gets pregnant in Massachusetts, all expenses are coming out of pocket. Probably yours, if she can’t afford it.
I want to know the name of the jerk that sits around and identifies these loopholes: “Hey guys, check this out… did you know we can cut maternity care insurance to all pregnant teenagers? How awesome is that? Let’s do it!”
I have no problem with businesses making money. I believe in a Capitalist America. What I don’t believe in is an anti-American attitude that denies life-giving care in the name of profit. That is not the mindset our forefathers had when they laid the plans for democracy. Those men and women risked and gave their own lives to give their children better lives. The people taking advantage of these loopholes are risking the lives of children to give themselves better lives.
Makes you wonder how the hastily-drawn plan Congress is likely to vote on will fair in the grips of such insidious characters. How will we fair living under it?
