A 60-day abatement for the exorbitant rate hike of up to 59
percent intended to impose on individuals and families was announced
by Blue Shield of California.
The advice came about with the declared plans by nurses, patients,
and consumer advocates who rushed Blue Shield's classy California
corporate headquarters in downtown San Francisco.
Blue Shield asserted that it was a coincidence, even though they
scampered to publicize their press release the same morning they were
reinforcing their doors with barricades, chains, and security guards
to bulwark their property from families being confronted by
bankruptcy with atrocious rate increases and nurses who care for the
casualties of insurance companies exploitation.
No, it wasn't difficult to figure out here between nurses and
patients increasing pressure on Shield's barricaded doorstep the same
day it acknowledged an all too short reprieve in its flagrant rate
increase.
However Blue Shields declaration won't blow off protests against
the said insurance company or other insurance corporation for that
matter.
Public pressure is crucial when it comes to confronting tyranny,
it doesn't matter whether you are faced with political repression or
whether you are confronting corporate control of our health.
There
are lives at stake. We can't depend on legislators, regulators,
courts or the lobbyists. We have to gamble on the demonstration of
people to end these insurance abuses and speed up the call for
absolute reform, extending the coverage of Medicare to everyone.
The 200 protesters pointed out Blue Shield's plan to jack up
premiums, and new data documenting that California insurers turn down
more than one-fourth of all claims. There are also words from
patients who told of the harmful effect of Blue Shield's actions.
"We are here because this is the scene of corporate crime.
The bean counters upstairs don't sit at the bedside and hold the
hands of our patients," as California Nurses
Association/National Nurses United Co-President told the rally.
McEwen disclosed, "A 60-day delay is a small victory, but it
won't alleviate the pain experienced by patients every day who must
endure callous price increases and care denials by an industry that
cares more about its bottom line than the patients it purports to
serve."
One patient says that their insurance is totally not worth the
price. They pay almost half what they pay for their rent. Kerry
Abukhalaf, accompanied by her son to the rally, said "Its just a
big rip-off. We may just throw our chances to the wind and find
insurance for our son and pay out of pocket for my husband and
myself."
Patrick Killelea, contract programmer living in Menlo Park whose
rates have bolstered 73% in past year emotionally said, "I'm
angry. I find it really unfair that I'm forced to pay an unlimited
amount to a private company. Basically, you have to pay the insurance
or go away and die. Something has to change."
Killelea said people always ask him, 'Why are the nurses doing
this?' His response? Nurses are doing it because they are at ground
zero. They see the fall out.
New data are presented to the insurer, which they themselves
report to the state Department of Managed Care, documenting that
insurers turned down 26 percent of all claims last year. These seven
companies, which account for more than three-fourths of all insurance
enrollees in California, have denied 67.5 claims since 2002.
Some of the people joining the protest were representatives of
Consumer Watchdog, the Courage Campaign, Healthcare Now, Physicians
for a National Health Program, and the San Francisco Labor Council,
in addition to other seniors, community, and healthcare activists.