Sunday September 13, 2009, 9:56 am
21% -- that's just an average, which means some companies reject more, one of them nearly 40% of claims for care. -- The data that the insurance co's have always wanted to hide has just now been released by the nation's largest nurses group, the the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee. 45M claims have been denied, in CA alone, since 2002.

PacifiCare-39.6%; CIGNA-33%; etc... 1 out of every 5 requests, even when recommended by patient's MD, is rejectedby California’s largest private insurers. The group says this amounts to very real death panels in practice daily in the nation’s biggest state !!

Please click on the 'Real Video Stream' option so that you can watch rather than just reading the tapescript of the interview with Charles Idelson, Communications Director for the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee, with Hilda Sarkisyan, the mother of a beautiful 17-yr-old daughter who died two years ago when Cigna refused their claim for a liver transplant, participating by phone. Universal healthcare in the name of her daughter, Nataline, has become the battlecry of this woman.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 11:10 am
Medicare also denies some Claims. So, what would a New System do? More than likely, more of the same.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 12:55 pm
I have had Medicare coverage for 20 years, and I have not ever been denied medical treatment no matter what treatment I needed. So the above statement isn't true. Just more of the same giberish from the right wing fanatics who don't like Medicare. Private insurance companies are notorious for denying medical treatment for one reason or another to keep their costs down. That the reason they have medical adjusters who go over every claim for treatment with a fine tooth comb to deny as many claims as possible. HMO's are the worst providers in the nation.
I was very pleased when the UK fired back against the right wing liars who said they had the worst health care in the world. Not true. They have one of the best, and even Cuba has excellent medical coverage for their citizens. It's the US that is behind the times, and their smear and fear campaigns are wearing thin. Screw the Republicans! We don't need them anyway....

Sunday September 13, 2009, 6:14 pm

As the rest of the world's developed countries have already figured out (the U.S. being the only one that hasn't), healthcare is a human right.

Access to necessary medical care should NOT be tainted by for-profit corporations and only available to those with money.

Sunday September 13, 2009, 8:43 pm


Real ‘Norma Rae’ dead of cancer after battle with health insurer
 
The woman whose life inspired the 1979 film Norma Rae has died of cancer after struggling with her health insurance company, which had delayed her treatment.
 

Monday September 14, 2009, 12:37 am
There are certainly more petitions to find and other ways to tell our President and your representatives what kind of healthcare reform we want, but the following is a good start:

1)MoveOn.org : "President Obama, we're counting on you to fight for bold change on health care--including a strong public health insurance option. It's the key to breaking the stranglehold that private insurers have over our health care system."

2)healthcare.kucinich: PETITION ESTABLISHING
HEALTH CARE AS A CIVIL RIGHT -- I HEREBY EXPRESS MY STRONG SUPPORT FOR HR676, SINGLE PAYER HEALTH CARE, AND THE PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMIC JUSTICE FOR WHICH IT STANDS

3)Tell Your Senators: Now is the Time for Health Care Reform; Sponsored by: Consumers Union of United States :

"Dear Senator,

As your constituent, I urge you to keep health reform moving forward, not stall or delay it.

Like millions of Americans, I support reforms that will stop insurance companies from denying coverage to those who are sick, older or can't afford outrageous premiums.

To help bring down costs and give us more choices, I support a public plan option that will compete for my business alongside private insurance companies. And I support tough reforms to end waste, fraud and abuse.

I support incentives for preventive care and early detection of serious diseases, and an end to preventable medical errors and hospital-acquired infections.

Finally, I ask you to make sure reform will reduce my costs and give me and all Americans health care security throughout our lives.

Sincerely, "


If you know of any other petitions, please get us the links here!

Monday September 14, 2009, 1:20 am


Contact the White House- Tell them we need real reform now, and a strong public option.

Email or call your United States Representative: https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml

Email or call your United States Senator:
http://www.senate.gov/

Monday September 14, 2009, 1:27 am
The real Norma Rae said, "Insurers' delays are almost like murder."

That's what these private insurers ARE -- the REAL death panels !