Friday, October 16, 2009

President's Weekly Address: Taking the Insurance Companies on Down the Stretch

From the White House web site:

As the health insurance reform debate enters into its final stages in Congress, the President denounces the desperate and deceptive last-ditch efforts of the health insurance companies to derail it.


I have seen first hand this week how much the health care system needs reformed. Even with my great insurance.. Medicare.. and all it covers and the Part D coverage I have, I still have to jump through hoops to get my meds covered and to be able to afford them.

I have a condition called Restless Leg. Yes it is real. I know some people don't believe in it.. but I have been tested and when your legs move 176 times in an hour, you have a problem. Because of the movement, I don't sleep well and I don't rest when I do sleep. The doctor tried me on some medicine to see if it would help, and I took the sample starter pack she gave me and it worked very well.

She then ordered them from the pharmacy and when I went to pick it up, it was denied by my insurance company. If I wanted this it would cost me $106.80 a month. Because my doctor hadn't called the insurance company and gotten a pre-authorization.

This is why we need reform. So things like this don't happen anymore. So an insurance office worker who doesn't know me from adam can't sit in an office somewhere reading a book and say I can't have the medicine that will help me, instead of my doctor, who knows what I need.

I know there are hundreds of stories just like this and worse.. but I just wanted to share my story with you today.

Now, here is the President. I hope the video plays a little better for you.. it was a little shaky for me..

8 comments:

Sue said...

Thanks for this Annette. When we get nervous Obama is not listening to us, all we need is to hear him and know HE IS! Your story is like millions of others, its pathetic. Congress and conservatives around the country still fear reform, even after hearing the president explain over and over. How can repubs say they will take seats in the next election? How can America fight against its own people?
My story is this.. I take 2 scripts for high blood pressure. With no insurance it will cost me 254.00 every 3 months. My Dr called in a generic for me to try this month which will cost me just 4.00 a month from Walmart RX. The last generic I tried made me deathly ill so I pray this one does not do that! So... if we get this reform the next fight must be immediate action, not 3 years from now!

Annette said...

I hear you Sue, I can't believe it will take 3 years to get this done. I know there will be some lag time, there always is, but it shouldn't take that long. Like I said, I knew my story wasn't unique, and it wasn't the worse story out there.. just one of the many, and one of the mild ones at that.. I can live with mine, you can't.

We have to get this done. No other way around it.. and we have to stay after the Senate mostly to put in the Public Option.

morb320 said...

Thanks for sharing your hc story, Annette.
I take meds for lupus, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and depression. I also take insulin for the diabetes in addition to janumet. I hate to think what my health would be like if I hadn't retired as a state employee with an affordable health care plan. My rates are the type of rates that many would get when hcr with a strong public option passes. I really don't understand why it is so difficult for people to see that there is strength in numbers when it comes to dealing with powerful corporations. Instead, some on the right want the "privilege" of being able to deal with the insurance companies on an individual basis, which is no privilege at all because the insurance companies will continue to run right over them the same way that they do now. When hcr with a strong public option passes, the teabaggers will reap more rewards than anyone because they live in the states with the largest number of uninsured persons in America.

K. said...

I take Robinparole for my RLS.

Did you see Keith Olbernmann's commentary last night? I have a link to it on my blog.

TomCat said...

Annette, that really stinks. I'm waiting for my Medicare card to arrive now,and trying to figure it all out is a chore! I'm sad to say that I'll need to purchse Medigap from the scoundrals.

mommapolitico said...

Great post, Annette. I will never forget being told that my Little Man's asthma meds would cost me $250 out of pocket if we wanted the one that was most effective in helping his breathing. It's an absolute sin. Getting real health care reform is a moral imperative. It's that simple.

It all comes down to corporate profits. Look who's filling the pockets of the Rethugs ad ConservaDems - no surprises there. Now that the bills are out of committee, it'll be interesting to see what gets put together in the final bill. If the Dems stick together, and no one jumps ship to the GOP's side of the "debate," we have a filibuster-proof opportunity to make positive change for the American people. And that'll pay big dividends in the midterms. If we don't, then the midterms are gonna get interesting...

Thanks, Annette. Hang in there - maybe we'll actually pull this off! It's feeling more possible than ever before. And the video played just fine for me - thanks for my weekly WH fix. Terrific post - thanks for sharing your story!

themom said...

The rethugs don't care how many people can't afford their meds or proper medical treatment. I have faith that Obama will succeed in his efforts, although the 3 year gap frustrates me.

I am one who does not go to the doctor, because of the cost. I am not alone, and only hope that the Dems will still pursue the public option.

Annette said...

As I said, we all have our stories.. and mine is certainly not unique. I worry these stories will just get worse before they get better if we don't get this Anti-Trust passed and if we don't get the Public Option with some strong regulations in there.

This has to have some teeth.. Already we are seeing premiums going up, my mom's is going up, and her co-pays are jumping from $5 for her Doctor, to $25 next year. And that's a PPO.. the cheapest she could get..

I swear it is getting difficult out there.