The Civil Rights BATTLE Of Our Time--Expanded Medicare For ALL.

[Segami]

" I wanted to better understand how insurers can defraud so openly and found five major practices working in an orchestrated manner to steal our money and deny medical care. They are as follows: the use of pre-existing conditions, gender rating, post-claims underwriting, retroactive policy rescission and the rewarding of employees for successful post-claims discovery. "



Melanie Shouse and Angela Braly have a common bond; both women have been dependent on the health insurance industry. Angela Braly, CEO for Wellpoint, has been heralded by Forbes Magazine as the highest paid insurance CEO in the US and listed as one of 100 most powerful women in business. In truth, Braly is merely another corporate suit placing profit over people. Her name could be "Jack the Ripper,' and the effect would be the same.


Melanie Shouse crusaded for her two political passions; medical care for all as implemented by a vibrant public option such as the Conyers-Kucinich bill, HR676 (aka Expanded Medicare for All), and electing a little known Illinois Senator, Barack Obama, president. Nationally known as a grassroots healthcare activist; she has been the modern-day equivalent of a female Moses, working to bring medical care for all--home.


Melanie died January 30th, 2010 from breast cancer. More specifically, she died most probably from delayed treatment and policy rescission, caused by her insurer--Wellpoint.


Melanie had insurance, not the "cadillac' type enjoyed by congress, but the individual policy for catastrophic illness, replete with a mandatory five thousand dollar deductible. No benefits kick in, until the five thousand is paid. As an individual, this was the only type of insurance open to her. Who among us can afford five thousand dollars before any benefits become active? It is wage slavery.


Melanie plainly stated this fact at a healthcare rally this past November. She probably knew this would be her epitaph.



""we need to take on the big insurance monopoly and liberate American families from the SLAVERY of skyrocketing insurance premiums and cancelled coverage, which leave millions of us in a state of perpetual fear and insecurity"" --Melanie Shouse, activist.



Melanie did all the right things. She came from a loving family, earned a biology degree with honors, became an activist for those less fortunate, ran a small business with her partner and paid her taxes. She was so well known and respected by President Obama, that he heralded her efforts for healthcare justice in a speech at the Democratic National Committee Annual Meeting. In addition, the president sent a personal letter of condolence to her life partner, Steve Hart. Steve is having the letter framed and hung in a place of honor, as well as the envelope where the return address is simply THE WHITE HOUSE. Her only "crime' was not being wealthy.


Melanie's care was delayed by deductibles and co-pays expensive enough to bankrupt most of us. In addition, her policy was "rescinded' after beginning her third round of chemo. Though her treatments were approved by the Siteman Cancer center, a premier research institution considered one of the top centers in the world; her provider Anthem (under the umbrella Wellpoint), rescinded or cancelled her coverage. Fortunately, for Melanie, she had coverage by the PUBLIC PLANS OF MEDICARE AND MEDICAID (after a 2 year waiting period), by that time. Without the public plans of Medicare and Medicaid; Melanie would have died much earlier. Wellpoint had sent her the equivalent of a death sentence.


more


<http://www.opednews.com/articles/The-civil-rights-battle-of-by-Jeanine-Molloff-100223-406.html>

[Hannah Bell]

1. obama respected her so much that he sent her a letter? how about some flipping HEALTH CARE?

[Segami]

2. I thought the very same thing. When's the last time anyone has read that an EX politician was seen

begging or pan handling on the city streets because they hit hard times related to medical bills? Has it ever been reported that a current or former politician was filing for bankruptcy or that their homes were in foreclosure because of unpaid medical bills? More than likely never. When that day comes that medical insurance coverage financially impacts these very same politicians or their families in some life changing degree, then maybe, just maybe might we start seeing a REAL discussion of change at providing a robust health care safety net for ALL. Until then, don't hold your breath for that day to come.