Medicare more likely to deny insurance claims

[Pseudo Intellectual]

Say Anything

Democrats tell us that we need government health care so that sick Americans can get the care they need without being denied. But under the government health care we already have Americans are denied far more often than the private sector:

According to the American Medical Association’s National Health Insurer Report Card for 2008, the government’s health plan, Medicare, denied medical claims at nearly double the average for private insurers: Medicare denied 6.85% of claims. The highest private insurance denier was Aetna @ 6.8%, followed by Anthem Blue Cross @ 3.44, with an average denial rate of medical claims by private insurers of 3.88%

In its 2009 National Health Insurer Report Card, the AMA reports that Medicare denied only 4% of claims—a big improvement, but outpaced better still by the private insurers. The prior year’s high private denier, Aetna, reduced denials to 1.81%—an astounding 75% improvement—with similar declines by all other private insurers, to average only 2.79%.

[preacherman76]

Well well, who woulda thought that. And after all that crap they talked regarding private insurance. And how medicare never denied anyone what ever the doctor ordered. LOL, and a pretty big hunk of what they do pay out is fraud. Scams. What a train wreck this pathectic government is. And we are suppose to believe them when they tell us they have the answers? I dont think so.

[Sir Wearer of Hats]

Seems to me that the first step in reform then is making Medicaid really universal.

Forget any other reform, make it that if you qualify for Medicaid treatment you get it. That's what Public Health Insurance is here in Oz, you get the help you need when there's a space for you to be helped. Mate of mine got knocked down by a cyclist. Being a good socialist, he went through the Public system. Took him a week to get the arm fixed (pins etc), but about 30 minutes to get it plastered and him on the sort of drugs that make you see faeries.

Cost him $60 and that was mostly for the drugs (he wanted to brand stuff) and cab fare home.