Health insurance is not health care !!

[jwirr]

12. I am for single payer but that will not necessarily make all procedures automatic. My daughter has

been covered my Medicaid/Medicare for many years now - before this insurance company mess started. We often had to fight for needs that the state denied because they did not understand why it was needed. Dental care every four years comes to mind. These pre-authorizations are by no means new.

As an example she has a custom made wheelchair that is at least 30 years old. It has a steel frame that is still as good as new and it can be kept in good condition by putting new accessories on it. We needed new armrests which cost $22.00 each and we were refused because they had destroyed the records of the wheelchairs purchase. They said she did not have a wheelchair. (Why would we need an armrest if we did not have a wheelchair?) They would not listen to anyone - the doctor, the social worker, etc. - so they asked me for help as I am pretty good at lobbying. I told the agency that they had a choice: A brand new custom made wheelchair or two armrests. The armrests were there in 2 weeks.