Democrats Probe 'Purging' of Health Coverage

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published: August 31, 2009

Filed at 3:19 p.m. ET

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A top House Democrat is investigating whether the nation's largest health insurers have deliberately canceled coverage for small businesses after their employees became sick and sought expensive treatment.

Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., sent letters Monday to six insurers requesting details about their plans for small businesses and how coverage decisions are made.

The trade group representing the companies said the action amounted to a smear campaign designed to bolster support of a public health insurance option.

Waxman is investigating an industry practice called ''purging,'' in which insurers drop coverage for sick individuals once they become too expensive to insure. According to a statement from Waxman, health insurers will terminate coverage to small businesses by canceling their policies or raising premiums until they are unaffordable.

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/08/31/business/AP-US-Small-Business-Health-Insurers.html?_r=1

It's time the Barbarians got a taste of their own medicine.

The naysayers say reform will interject the government between a patient and his/her doctor. What they don't say, of course, is that right now insurance companies are coming between the doctor/patient relationship. And often with deadly outcomes.

There is no defense for their actions. They should be outed!

I've engaged in a personal practice called "purging" in which I drop insurance companies that have no intention of ever paying a claim.

who after paying $9,500 of his $10,000 deductible, his insurance company dropped him. Fucking vampires is what they are.

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

I worked for a company where one of the employees had a very difficult birth & the baby needed intense & expensive treatment. The next year, the insurance company raised the company's rates by almost 35%. An insurance rep actually told the HR director, "What did you expect after that million dollar baby last year?"

:grr: :grr: :grr: :grr: :grr:

at least that's what the Talking Point is telling everyone......... :eyes:

Good on Waxman, and shame on the trade group calling it a "smear campaign"............ Projection MUCH! They have been the ones bolstering misinfo about the Public Option.