[by MV]
Now we make the issue of health care more personal. It can be easy to have an opinion on health care from a political, economic and even Biblical perspective. It gets more difficult when you look at it from a personal perspective. It is not just about dollars it is about real people facing real problems.
After watching this video answer the following:
- Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition?
- Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage?
- If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options?
- Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa?
Advertisement
19 comments
Comments feed for this article
November 20, 2009 at 8:39 pm
Noel Jefferson
Lisa’s condition is one of many that is happening in the United States. I feel that their should have been able to pickup her cobra premieres. His employer should have been responsible for checking into her options and because of existing conditions helped her keep insurance. Most insurances do not want to take a new member that has pre-existing conditions. They know from the beginning that she will cost the company a lot of payout on her policy. The increased of the premieres for all members which may cause them to look else where for coverage. When coverage is not accepted by private companies sometimes help can be obtained thru hospital agencies. There are agencies that will provide funds for the very needy found at many hospitals. The question is asked about her church which she is a member. I don’t feel that there is anything wrong with asking the church. It is the duty as christian members to serve our fellow brethren. However, she should realize that most churches are under budgets and have so much allows for this type of incident. She should still try to seek help with other agencies as well.
November 27, 2009 at 5:12 pm
Keina Harmon
Noel how do you know that Lisa is a member of a church? You said that it is our duty as Christian members to help our fellow bretheren, I do agree with you, so that means that me and you need to be helping Lisa find help so that she can get her treatments.
November 30, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Mike Tirrell
Do you think it is the “Church’s” responsibility or her local church’s responsibility to help Lisa (someone unknown to us personally)? Thoughts anyone?
November 20, 2009 at 8:49 pm
Ken Reilly
I don’t think insurance companies should deny someone coverage just because they have a pre-existing condition as in the case of Lisa. I think health insurance companies probably declined to give her coverage because they know how expensive her treatments are and what it will cost them to insure her. Her other options maybe Medicaid it she qualifies or maybe some kind of disability it she isn’t able to work because of her condition. Hospitals also offer help to people who are eligible for either a program that will pay for their bills or for reduced payments depending on their income level.
I think that depending on the kind of church that she attends that they may be quite willing to help her with financial donations to help pay for her tests, they may not be responsible for taking care of her, but I think that any group of compassionate people would be willing to help her until she gets back on her feet. They could hold a fund raiser for her to try and collect money.
She mentioned she couldn’t get COBRA I looked this up and found that people who lose their jobs either voluntarily or involuntarily are supposed to be eligible for temporary health coverage, although they have to pay their own health insurance premiums, maybe she couldn’t afford the premiums.
November 27, 2009 at 5:09 pm
Keina Harmon
1.Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition?
Personally I do think that she should, just because she can function. Without health care Lisa runs a big chance of dying because she cannot see a doctor.
2.Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage?
She is to much of a risk to and her condition could cause then to lose a lot of money.
3.If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options?
She can look into Medicaid and COBRA.
4.Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa?
The church could hold her a fundraiser the only thing is they have to be careful because there may be more people without insurance. I think that someone should raise money for, but I don;t know if it should just be the churches job.
November 30, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Jess Stratton
Ke, why is she such a big threat to health insurance companies?
November 30, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Keina Harmon
Jess, its such a threat because of her health condition. If she were to die because of it that would lose them a lot of money. Personally I think that is wrong, but sometimes as a business you have to keep yourself out of the hole.
November 30, 2009 at 11:03 pm
Tom Catalfamo
ok i understand
November 30, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Tom Catalfamo
ya what would be the harm.
November 29, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Anna Barnard
1.Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition?
Yes. I believe that she does have a right to health care. She has a medical condition, that without the help of a doctor, she could die. Therefore, like many people out there with serious medical problems she certainly has the right to have health care.
2. Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage?
I think the they declined her because of her condition and how serious it is. I think that eh health insurance companies are afraid of losing money in the end.
3. If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options?
Well, if should is a member of a church I think that she could join with them and put up a fundraiser so that she could have enough money. She could also, as Keina mentioned, look into Medicaid.
Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa?
I absolutely believe that as Christians the church should reach out to her. The Bible clearly commands up to take care of the sick and the needy. If we are striving to be like Christ, helping others and reaching out is a large step toward making that goal.
November 29, 2009 at 1:50 pm
Jessica McCleaf
1.) Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition? I believe that she should be able to have a right to health care. Yes, she has a pretty serious condition and it is on going with check-ups. But just because someone is going to use their healthcare plan a lot doesn’t mean they should be denied. It’s not that she’s going to the Doctor’s for a common cold (this was not stated), she is going for legit reasons due to her previous health records and what is required by doctors. If she didn’t go to her appointments because she could not pay her bills, I think all insurance companies that she contacted should be sued for decline of medical insurance.
2.) Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage? They denied her coverage because of her previous medical records. They would surely loose money on her case because insurance is usually only for those who need a little help. Insurance companies make the client pay only a small percent of their actual bills. By giving her health insurance that she would use frequently the company would loose a large sum of money.
3.) If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options? option 1 would be to stop attending office visits, option 2 would be to apply for Medicaid or COBRA, option 3 (which is rare) is to find a doctor who will allow those small payments to be her only payments because of her condition.
4.) Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa? As fellow siblings in Christ, we are to help those in need. Sometimes it is hard to help everyone because their are so many people in need. But, in this case if no one else will grant her insurance, I think the church (even if it is only a small group; those the closest to her) is to support her financially until she can manage. Prayer is also very important in all situations. Trust God with your finances; don’t stop giving your tithe, trust that He will provide; surrender.
November 29, 2009 at 5:49 pm
John Hale
Lisa is part of the growing group of people with expensive conditions that are simply unable to pay for health care. Although she certainly has the right to be treated for her preexisting condition, the insurance companies also have the right to deny coverage. The reason that the insurance companies can deny coverage is simply that the fact that they too are private companies. The insurance companies have a rather small profit margin, and allowing a certain group of people or covering a certain condition could endanger the company. Insurance provides a reasonable amount of coverage for different diseases, but cannot feasibly cover everything and still make (or even break even) financially. This means that Lisa needs to find some sort of help paying for health care. This will most likely be done through government plans (medicare, cobra).
Now I also believe that the church members should help those that they know that are unable to pay for necessities, including healthcare. Part of why we have turned to the government to help the needy is because the church is not doing it. are we not called to help the poor, widows, and orphans? People that are truly in need certainly should go to the church if hey cannot get help anywhere else.
November 29, 2009 at 10:10 pm
Sam Hommel
Lisa should be covered for her pre-existing condition. Just because her condition may be more expensive or she may need to see a doctor and have tests done more often than other people, does not mean that she should be denied healthcare. Private health insurance companies have denied her coverage because they would most likely not make as much money on her as they would other people. Her other options would be to either ask the church for help or apply for Medicaid. Otherwise, she would be forced to stop attending doctor visits because of the expense. In the bible, we are commanded to help those in need. The people in her church should set up some kind of fundraiser to help her with her condition.
November 30, 2009 at 9:39 am
Ryan
Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition? i think that Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition. She needs the health care to help support her with her pre-existing condition.
Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage? I think that the private health insurance companies have declined to give Lisa coverage, because she is to much of a liability for them. With her pre-existing condition, which causes her to go to a doctor at least once a year, or even every six months, the bill will definitely start to get very large and private insurance companies can not afford that and still make a finical profit.
If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options? As previously said she could look into Medicare, but she did say that she can not get COBRA but she did not elaborate as to why.
Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa? I think that the church, up to a point, definitely has a responsibility to care for Lisa. Case and point Luke 10:25-37, the parable of the Good Samaritan. Her church could always take up a Love offering for her. They could, as Keina said, hold a yard sale to raise her money. They could even hold a auction bake sale to sell of baked goods all for Lisa’s benefit. There are many things that her local church could do for her, and all of the people in her church that have finical issues.
November 30, 2009 at 6:48 pm
Jess Stratton
1.Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition?
2.Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage?
3.If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options?
4.Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa?
November 30, 2009 at 6:54 pm
Jess Stratton
Oooops:) Try number 2.
1.Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition? Yes, I think she should have coverage. Her incurance dropped her after she was laid off. Its not like shewas fired or terminated, she was laid off due to the economy. Therefor, I think she should still have the right to health insurance.
2.Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage? I think that the companies decline her because she is a functioning person. She doesn’t have a disabling problem. She is able to try to find another job, and I think thats what the companies are waiting for. Maybe the other companies are giving health insurance to other people who are in the hospital daily or monthly, someone who needs coverage more so than Lisa.
3.If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options? I think her other options are trying to find a way to pay for health insurance. This can be done through Cobra nad Medicare.
4.Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa? I definitley think that the church should help her out financially. A church has so many ministries and there are ways that they could reacho out and help Lisa. Like most said, a fundraiser would be an aweseom way to raise money. People will give, they just need to know that she is in need and I hope she is professing her need of assistance.
November 30, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Mike Tirrell
1) Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition?
Considering her condition, its severity and ease of treatment, I would say yes Lisa should have the right to health care. Her condition is only dangerous if left neglected. It is more a benign than a malignant disease.
2) Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage?
I believe they deny Lisa coverage because Lisa poses as more of risk to them than any larger company, if that is what you are asking. Overall she is a high risk to any company, I guess just more so with private insurers. Is it true that companies deny you coverage for any substantial pre-condition or do they evalutae the specifics? Another reason as to why Lisa cannot get insured is probably because her disease can’t be remedied, it is continuos and life-long. Check it: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/11/19/madison-leuchtmann-girl-d_n_364270.html
3) If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options?
As others have said Medicaid is a second choice. Also eluding to the last question asking for aid from her church (assuming she is a Christian).
4) Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa?
I do believe that her local church does have some sort of responsibility to help Lisa with her troubles. Is that not the public responsibility of the church? Or has the attitude of the first century church vanished?
November 30, 2009 at 11:03 pm
John Hale
I believe, yes the attitude of the 1st century church has partly vanished, and I think that this is a very bad thing. There is no real reason that Christian doctors shouldn’t help those that cannot pay, and why the church as a whole shouldn’t help those that can’t pay. It also seems that some people do help those out, and I think that more of this in and out of the church would be a wonderful thing.
November 30, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Tom Catalfamo
Do you think Lisa should have a right to health care with her pre-existing condition?
Why do you think that private health insurance companies have declined to give her coverage?
If she is not able to get coverage from private insurance companies what are her other options?
Notice the blanket in the background. If she is a Christian, a member of a church, does that church have any responsibility to care for Lisa?
Yes i do think that she should receive the health care. i think that they have done that because of how she has been in the past and her current condition. the other opitons i guess are health care or something like that im not to sure about it they have the right to take care of her but not to do for her and her not try but also i cant say wait Gods plan is it just may be that.