Michigan Personal Injury Blog - Insurance Reform

Insurance Companies Might Have to Play by the Same Rules As Other Industries After All

David Mittleman — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 16:15:00 GMT

I've been saying for months that we're not in a medical or health care crisis, we're in an INSURANCE CRISIS. It looks like the folks at Congress know what I'm talking about.

Congress seems poised to end a 50-plus year vacation insurance companies have enjoyed from federal anti-trust regulation. Bills are making their way through committees in both the House and Senate that would strip the insurance industry of its exemption from federal anti-trust laws.

This important move by Congress will increase competition and prevent price-fixing, all of which helps the American consumer times these tough financial times. The insurance companies, not surprisingly, are crying wolf over the prospect of no longer being able to gouge Americans with unfair policies and pricing structures.

Senator Harry Reid put it best when he said: "It's time to level the playing field for American healthcare consumers and make the insurance industry play by the same rules that other industries live by."

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

Why Do Doctors Always Think They Are Entitled To Special Treatment?

David Mittleman — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 09:59:00 GMT

I recently wrote a letter to the editor of the Lansing State Journal on just this topic. The truth is, it's not just my friend and anesthesiologist Dr. Kenneth Elmassian, who takes this viewpoint - the local Michigan State Medical Society (MSMS) and the national American Medical Association (AMA) group that want to place doctors above the law. They have a problem with defensive medicine because of their faulty assumption on its connection to health care costs. They also want to single out doctors and give them blanket immunity that doesn't exist with any other type of private individual.

Frankly, it is my choice and right as a patient to want defensive medicine for me and my family. I don't want doctors cutting corners if the technology is available. We are not in the midst of a medical or legal crisis. WE ARE IN AN INSURANCE CRISIS. WE NEED INSURANCE REFORM.

The Constitution of the United States makes the right to a jury trial in civil matters a protected right by virtue of the 7th Amendment. If a jury can decide the factual disputes in all other negligence cases, and if a jury can decide whether a person commited a crime that can be punishable by loss of libery (incarceration), then a jury can certainly decide fair and adequate damages when a doctor harms a patient, and they and their families are affect for the rest of their lives!

Doctors put their pants/skirts on just like WE do!

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman

We Need Insurance Reform Now

David Mittleman — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:27:00 GMT

Insurance companies have been in the spotlight recently, particularly with President Obama’s proposals to reshape the health care industry. Millions of Americans are without health insurance, and access to quality care seems to be more and more elusive. As employees are losing their jobs, they are also losing employer-provided health benefits, assuming they had them to begin with. Even individuals with insurance are being pushed beyond the limits of their finances. I believe it is fair to say that America is in the middle of an insurance crisis.

Newspapers are replete with headlines describing some of the most flagrant abuses by insurance companies. In addition to denying benefits that should be paid, insurance companies have been accused of committing staggering amounts of fraud and waste. Despite this, insurance reform has yet to take hold.

Insurers steadfastly continue to oppose any attempt at insurance reform. Meanwhile, individual claimants continue to suffer as they wait for benefits that may never come. These people are truly victims of the insurance industry. Already injured or sick, they are forced to make do without much-needed services or to pay for them out of their own pockets. They can be forgiven for wondering what their premium payments have been used for if not to pay for the benefits they eventually seek.

Now is the time for insurance reform. You have an opportunity to take part in this process. Contact your Senators and Representative and tell them you want insurance companies to be held accountable for the benefits they have promised to provide.

Originally posted at InjuryBoard by David Mittleman