I found an all-new reason to hate health insurance companies [View All]

Last week I went to an eye exam to determine if I am a candidate for lasik surgery. It turns out I am not. Something about the shape of my eyes. It's a condition that is unlikely to affect my vision much, but makes lasik a bad idea and the dr. who did the exam is doing a study on it. I was asked to participate.

Partcipation involves getting some measurements and making a sort of topographical map of my eyes, something that happens during my regular eye exams anyway. It has ZERO affect on my health.

The lady told me she had to check with my insurance company first to see if they would allow it. She has had to unenroll people from the study because their insurance forbid it. They can even refuse to cover you for unrelated things if you do a study they do not approve.

I can understand if the study involves taking medication (especially experimental) or anything that would seriously affect one's health, but this was basically taking a photograph.

The insurance companies are in control... and so out of control.