accident has had to traverse the maze of what is and is not covered by a given insurance company. Regardless of what treatment my doctor recommends, it has to pass vetting by the insurance company. To an undocumented and variable set of criteria - Blue Cross & Blue Shield for example has told me they will not give me a printed copy of my coverage because it "might change" within the existing policy dates. Obama's solution may not be perfect, but let's not unfairly cast it as lesser than the current system in cases where it is not. Working | 12.11.09 @ 1:37PM "How is this any different than the current situation with many private insurers where the claims review department of the insurance company makes the same call?" The difference is that you are not FORCED to pay for that coverage under penalty of fines or prison. The difference is, you have the RIGHT to leave that insurer and support their competition. The difference is that you are paying for YOUR coverage, and not anyone else's... last I heard, private insurers don't offer tax credits for the poor and don't send you to jail when you cancel your policy to feed your kids ( or whatever reason YOU decide is best for YOU). Last I heard, they don't send some ferderal worker to your home when they think you have too many kids to discuss birth control with you, and last I heard, they don't deny you a mammogram