WellPoint routinely targets breast cancer patients

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

(Reuters) - Shortly after they were diagnosed with breast cancer, each of the women learned that her health insurance had been canceled. There was Yenny Hsu, who lived and worked in Los Angeles. And there was Patricia Reilling, a successful art gallery owner and interior designer from Louisville, Kentucky.

Neither of these women knew about the other. But besides their similar narratives, they had something else in common: Their health insurance carriers were subsidiaries of WellPoint, which has 33.7 million policyholders -- more than any other health insurance company in the United States.

The women paid their premiums on time. Before they fell ill, neither had any problems with their insurance. Initially, they believed their policies had been canceled by mistake.

They had no idea that WellPoint was using a computer algorithm that automatically targeted them and every other policyholder recently diagnosed with breast cancer. The software triggered an immediate fraud investigation, as the company searched for some pretext to drop their policies, according to government regulators and investigators.

Once the women were singled out, they say, the insurer then canceled their policies based on either erroneous or flimsy information.

...

WellPoint has specifically targeted women with breast cancer for aggressive investigation with the intent to cancel their policies, federal investigators told Reuters.

...

The disclosures come to light after a recent investigation by Reuters showed that another health insurance company, Assurant Health, similarly targeted HIV-positive policyholders for rescission. That company was ordered by courts to pay millions of dollars in settlements.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63L2LS20100422

[Ali G. 37]

I just don't understand how any Republican can ignore this.

Or is that how politics (ideology) work in America? You just stick to and read what you want to read and ignore the reality.

PS Does this article back up my point in the other thread or what. I'm not as dumb as I look.

Edited April 23, 2010 by Ali G.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

There is really no reason to be upset here. People always forget that business is all about making money. Make no mistake about it, the insurance industry is a major business. Business is not about doing what's right or being nice to people. Its about putting cash in your pocket! Is the very definition of Capitalism.

If you want business to care whether people live or die then you better regulate it. So many here start spouting Socialism every time the government try's to place regulation on any industry. This only clouds the issue with smoke and mirrors.

If you want your Capitalism purged clean of Socialism then be prepared for people to die.

If want your Capitalism to have a conscience, then be prepared to accept some Socialistic tendencies...

You can't have your cake and eat it too... only the brain dead believe that's possible... and there are plenty of brain dead on both sides of the political spectrum...

[Ali G. 37]

Sorry Phil but it seems to work quite well abroad. Like everything, socialism has become a cliche here used to falsely brand something in a negative manner.

Republicans don't want any regulation, they don't want any reform, they just want to allow their buddies to kill off the unhealthy Americans. Yet these same people then have the nerve to wave the flag and mention the Constitution. It's these sort of shenanigans that has pushed me (a conservative) away from that party. I'm not some dumb #### who toes the party line, I don't #### my own countrymen for a profit; rather, I try to lift them up.

The revolutionary war was not fought from kings and queens to have a handful of wealthy doing the same damn thing. Then again, England simply overtaxed Americans, they didn't leave them to die for a profit. The rural republican needs to wake up and smell the coffee. From healthcare to war. Damn straight we went into Iraq so the wealthy could win lucrative contracts, while the poor from rural areas die actually serving the country.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

Sorry Phil but it seems to work quite well abroad. Like everything, socialism has become a cliche here used to falsely brand something in a negative manner.

You are correct. It does work in other countries. I maintain this is because the form of Capitalism at work there, has not been purged clean of any Socialist tendencies...

As far as the poor dying in wars... well the poor have always died for the rich in wars... would not have much of an army if you only sent the rich. Not enough of them. Tens of thousands of poor make better cannon fodder.

Edited April 23, 2010 by PhiLandShiR

[Ali G. 37]

You are correct. It does work in other countries. I maintain this is because the form of Capitalism at work there, has not been purged clean of any Socialist tendencies...

As far as the poor dying is wars... well the poor have always died for the rich in wars...

The poor which includes the middle class just have to realize that they make up 90 per cent of the country; thus, have a huge say it what goes.

In most other first world countries, the majority have woken up, smelt the coffee and demanded they not be played like fools. Contrary to slogans, they are still capitalists but have just set rules of the game. For example, someone who works is paid a fair (livable) wage. As I have also pointed out before, between the 40's to the 70's the wealthy paid 90 per cent in tax. The economy not only did well but the wealthy still remained wealthy. Since then, they got extremely greedy and wanted even more; which has come at the expense of Americans. Furthermore, it somehow became cool to steal from your own people and call it capitalism. It became acceptable for CEOs to fire thousands, while increasing their pay. To export jobs abroad to save a dime, while totally destroying the country established for we the people. To earn 5 to 8 thousand times that of the worker.

The internaitonal first world model is not complicated at all. Once those working get paid a fair wage, companies / CEOs can earn whatever they like. People are taxed accordingly, which does mean gently (unnoticeable) skimming from the top, to assist those countrymen that are less fortunate. Something that ironically is also an investment because it gets those people off welfare and turns them into functional members of society. Win for the country, win for business. The wealthy and repubs here seem to have this third world-esque mentality of 'I am not giving anybody nothing'. Why do you think Australia and Canada is doing so well? Don't take my word for this success, just look at the US between the 40's and 70's; when the tax rate was 90 plus per cent.

Edited April 23, 2010 by Ali G.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

So, Wellpoint takes it's fiduciary responsibility seriously. The company should be applauded for that, not criticized. Of course, this is also the best argument against PHI.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

So, Wellpoint takes it's fiduciary responsibility seriously. The company should be applauded for that, not criticized.

Yup, they are just doing the business of business. Their stock holders are their boss, not some client who jsut happens to have cancer...

[Ali G. 37]

Yup, they are just doing the business of business. Their stock holders are their boss, not some client who jsut happens to have cancer...

Hence the necessity for regulation or for the industry to have not-for-profit government option. I have gone over and over the Constitution and cannot find capitalism, stockholder or business. Or do we simply use this document when convenient?

We saw too well what happens when private industry mixes with government and is allowed to do whatever they want. Prison for minors in Pennsylvania ring a bell.