Wishing and Hoping

[Welcome Industry Radar readers!]

Gay Logg of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina left her job (and group insurance) behind a and applied for individual major medical. Only one thing.

She has a pre-existing condition that is not covered by her health insurance.

There is no indication if she investigated what was available before leaving behind her group health plan.

Twice a year she receives iron infusions at the Coastal Cancer Center. Each transfusion costs $4,000 . . . which is not covered by her major medical plan.

Now comes the indignity.

She asked the cancer center to finance the more than 4000 dollar cost of the infusion. She was told she would need to provide numerous financial documents. Then, the center Board of Directors would need to approve her.

Dr. Vijay Paudel said if a patient asks for a payment plan, Coastal Cancer Center requires financial documents and then the board of directors meet to decide whether to approve the payment plan. Dr. Paudel said it's standard practice for doctor offices to require payment up-front.

He also said if a patient can't pay for medicine, they require the same documents to petition the pharmaceutical companies to provide free medication.

Fortunately, Mrs. Logg was able to pay but so many are not.

So . . . Mrs. Logg was able to pay for her care, but wanted someone else to pay it for her.

Her carrier requires proof of insurability before they will approve her coverage.

The cancer center asks for proof of financial ability before they will make a loan to cover the cost of her treatment.

The very idea!!

Sounds like banking reform is in order.

I can't understand why politicians aren't jumping all over this. Sounds like we need a national banking plan with a single lender.