[glenntaj]

-- I know insurance issues are very much in the minds of people with all sorts of chronic conditions, and celiac/gluten sensitivity is certainly associated with neuropathy. Moreover, it's another good argument for comprehensive health insurance reform in the US, which many here know I've been writing about and arguing for years:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health....column?page=2

My wife got to watch me throw a tantrum after reading this early in the morning. Great fun.

[darlindeb25]

I definitely agree, something needs to be done about health care...the insurance companies need some guidelines that they have to follow by law. ObamaCare is not the answer though...I wish I had a good plan.

It scares me to think another insurance company could deny me coverage because I have a diagnosis of sensory neuropathy. I do not have a celiac diagnosis of celiac, although I am gluten intolerant, which is much bigger than celiac disease. At least a celiac diagnosis isn't in my paperwork!

[daniella]

I agree and not only the deny issue but how high the insurance rates can get with pre existing conditions.

[nide44]

Celiac?
An easily treatable condition for most people who have it !
Denied?
Arrgghhhh !!!

[antonina]

I cannot express how incredibly lucky I feel to be old enough to have Medicare. For years I had Group Health Insurance (GHI) through the NYC Board of Education. We called it "God Help the Ill." Use an out of network doc? GHI reimburses you $32 no matter how huge the bill. Doc says you need an MRI? GHI gets to say "yea" or "nea," depending on the judgement of a CLERK. Most of the in-network docs were very newly minted MDs or experienced but old time hacks. Premiums went up 10-12% per year yet the out of network reimbursement stayed the same but the co-pay went up. For some reason, prior existing conditions were not an issue. Maybe because NYS ins. dept didn't allow it.

Medicare is not perfect but it's an agency already in place, would not need another whole layer of bureaucracy, has a 3 to 4% administrative cost, would become much more affordable were it to cover millions under age 65, etc. etc.

Just my 2 cents.

[dahlek]

Is...were the test results ever relayed to the parents of that child? Doubt it and I speak from experience. I found some results of a test that I'd had IN APRIL waiting for me when I came home from hospital and physical rehab in late JULY. Had I NOT asked for copies of that tests' results, I would not have known. I'd communicated with key docs about this test since it was done and NOT ONE ever conveyed concern to me about possible complications of ANYTHING - and this IS September, last I looked. During my 'interment'? I simply couldn't figure out why everyone was soo concerned about some aspects of my diet and not about other more obvious issues. Now I know why. DUH.
Fortunately, in more ways than one? I've been a member of the same insurance plan for 2/3rds of my life. And I plan on keeping it as long as possible! Each year when the 'changes' are announced, I get on the phone with any and all questions regarding those changes and more. While I admit, that the quality of the info one gets is dependent on the 'quality' of the person one gets.. I'm not shy about asking that same question at least 4 times if needed, to be sure I understand the 'terms' of the answer.
I used to be a [crudely put] 'benefits administrator' and while that was a decade ago? I can tell you that things were squirrelley then, they are horrid now! Oh BTW? I ask them for copies of their policy to be 'e-mailed' to me so's I have the issue in writing. Cover your self, I always say...
One really MUST get the full details of plan coverage and exceptions and the hows/whys exceptions are determined. What worries me, is reports that more and more plans are NOT putting out their coverages/exceptions etc. into print. Any company that does that? I AM SUSPICIOUS OF! In the end? You get what you pay for, for better or worse. BUT THERE ARE APPEALS processes. And those should be in those elusive policies as well.
The case you cite is abhorrent from all moral and fiduciary aspects...as the company took their money ...then said OOPS? HUH?
My heart goes to all who have to endure this kind of copralite [look up the definition] And, Glenn? I agree this is inexcusable conduct by the insurance company.
Hope and knowledge to all. - j

[stagger]

I want to comment on this except it so confusing, watching C-spand interviews makes it even more confusing. We all know its screwed up, this is like energy, no policy for 30 plus years.
Lanny