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This is the 5th thread on the exact same story, but I'll repeat myself:
at the time of this story (early 2008) Tarceva had yet to be approved by Oregon (and about 20 other states) and was considered experimental.
The letter from OHP (Oregon's Medicaid) specifically said they would pay for palliative care and hospice.
Tarceva does not cure cancer in any way - what it does, in clinical trials, is extend someone's life 6.5 months instead of 4.7 months people on the placebo averaged.
OHP had paid for her previous surgery, chemotherapy, home health nurse, 100%, but denied Tarceva because it was experimental and because they don't pay for drugs that don't have AT LEAST a 5% 5 year survival rate. Tarceva can't even claim that 5% rate for 1 year, much less 5.
Is it harsh to ration medical care this way? Yes. On the other hand, if you google the terms "tarceva insurance denied" you'll come up with pages and pages of stories about private firms - and one state - denying Tarceva because of its limited benefit.
Should they (the insurance company) be allowed to deny it? Maybe it might work on her.
Lefties and Dems can spin it how they please. But the truth is out there. And we have already seen people being denied health care and offered assisted suicide instead (the definition of rationed health care if you ask me).
Meet Barbara Wagner:
Barbara Wagner has one wish - for more time.
"I'm not ready, I'm not ready to die," the Springfield woman said. "I've got things I'd still like to do."
Her doctor offered hope in the new chemotherapy drug Tarceva, but the Oregon Health Plan sent her a letter telling her the cancer treatment was not approved.
Instead, the letter said, the plan would pay for comfort care, including "physician aid in dying," better known as assisted suicide.
You are SO Clueless because the reality is that if she had private insurance, they would have denied the treatment that was not approved as well. The bottom line of private insurance companies is money money money and they deny claims like this all the time.
It gets tiresome facing all these untruths about the health care legislation. .
Well that's the basic defense of those who are against it; spread as many half truths and lies as possible because chances are 9 out of 10 people aren't going to look for the other side of the story
Quote:
Originally Posted by Katiana
What she said. Who is digging up these old stories and making such an issue out of them, anyway. Any guesses?
I think they're hoping no one notices that it's from a year ago.
The whole idea of a single payer system is that the government will control the cost of health care.
I know it's socialism and I know the living will stuff could evolve into what people like Palin are saying. I agree. I hate the idea of counselling. I'm not for it as it stands where people can ask for it. It's ok if you want it. But it's offensive when it is offered when it is not wanted.
It's offensive and troubling to think that your doctor might not be as motivated to treat you as he should be; the reason being you are costing the system money.
But this is worse; when the government gets into it (and they are going to keep records. And they will know who you are and they will know if you're one of those hold-outs who is costing them money) And the government, being a voting body, might vote (which seems to make everything right. Even what was wrong was made right by voting on it - a miracle) for something like Palin's death panel (where you would have to argue for and justify treatment)
I guess what happened in the Schiavo case, where the government got involved, is what's got people scared.
The government controlling costs is ok. I'll admit it's nice to never have to worry about the cost of your health care. So lose the 'paying doctors to counsel' thing. It's not necessary and unwanted.
I'll tell you another thing. A single payer system will help our system as well. When we graduate our doctors, many of them go down to the States to work - where they can make more money. As a result, we have a doctor shortage, and sometimes people have to wait longer for treatment. If the U.S. adopted the Canadian system, our doctors would stay here and that would solve our doctor shortage.
I guess what happened in the Schiavo case, where the government got involved, is what's got people scared.
The government controlling costs is ok. I'll admit it's nice to never have to worry about the cost of your health care. So lose the 'paying doctors to counsel' thing. It's not necessary and unwanted.
I'll tell you another thing. A single payer system will help our system as well. When we graduate our doctors, many of them go down to the States to work - where they can make more money. As a result, we have a doctor shortage, and sometimes people have to wait longer for treatment. If the U.S. adopted the Canadian system, our doctors would stay here and that would solve our doctor shortage.
That was the government of a Republican administration. And yes, they got involved in a family dispute.
Doctors get paid to "counsel" for a lot of things. They get paid to counsel about immunizations, for example. Counseling for end of life care is needed and wanted. Many people have spoken out in other forums of the need for this counseling. If you have not made your wishes known, and you are too incapacitated to tell your doctor, the doctor/hospital is required by law to do everything possible to keep you alive, even if there is no hope for your recovery. As far as "unwanted", during the Terri Schiavo situation, I did a workshop at my church about advance directives. I was amazed how many people said something to the effect of "I don't want what happened to my mother (father) to happen to me". Many people are afraid of ending their days hooked up to machinery in a hospital.
Many people are afraid of ending their days hooked up to machinery in a hospital.
Really? You're in a coma, and a machine is feeding you, and that is what you're afraid of - of being fed by a machine? I don't get it. I would be afraid if they disconnected the machine and I would starve to death. How would you like it if they starved someone you love to death?
Really? You're in a coma, and a machine is feeding you, and that is what you're afraid of - of being fed by a machine? I don't get it. I would be afraid if they disconnected the machine and I would starve to death. How would you like it if they starved someone you love to death?
You have obviously not talked to very many people who have seen the above happen to their loved ones, who at that point usually want nothing more than to die. The machines are usually breathing for them, not feeding them. I've been a visiting nurse and a hospice nurse, and I've had people tell me that.
You also don't know a whole lot about end of life care, period. The feeding usually gets done via a tube inserted into the pt's stomach, sometimes their nose. Sometimes it is done by IVs. In any event, most people are not left to starve.
Yeah but honestly, what are the odds of them helping you if you have a pre existing condition? It is hard.
This is what UHC is about. To help people that insurances keep on rejecting.
The odds of them helping you with a pre-existing condition? Virtually ZERO. I was rejected by all the major insurance companies when we had to go on COBRA and look for an alternative to a $1300+ monthly premium. The only insurance companies that even gave me a glance were no-names with sky-high premiums, as well as lousy coverage that none of my doctors took. Until the stimulus packaged kicked in 65% of our COBRA cost, I spent weeks worrying and searching for some kind of coverage. The thought of not being able to afford my meds made me realize how dire it is for people who simply cannot pay for any kind of health care. People are dying because they can't afford to seek proper care or take their meds.
Nobody's going to take away your right to have private health insurance.
Why is this so hard for people to accept or understand?????
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