From: vengeanc@uxa.cso.uiuc.edu ()
Subject: Re: Rush -- Insurance and AIDS
Organization: University of Illinois at Urbana
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 06:04:32 GMT

dickw@IASTATE.EDU (Richard Wallingford) writes:

>Rush was talking about people whose insurance gets canceled when it
>is found that they have AIDS.  He thinks it's just fine that they're
>canceled because they caused their own condition (he used the analogy
>that fire insurance won't pay if you set your own house on fire).

>I don't think Rush understands insurance very well.  First, his
>analogy is faulty because fire insurance *will* cover accidental
>fires started by the homeowner (i.e. grease fire) and most AIDS
>cases are contracted by accident (even if there is stupididty and
>ignorance involved).  

>Second, if a person has health insurance *before* he/she gets AIDS, 
>then the insurance company should be required to pay up to the maximum 
>lifetime benefit of the policy.  Risk is the whole principal behind
>insurance coverage.  The insurance company is "betting" that you won't
>get sick and you're "betting" that you will.  Both parties are agreeing
>to take the financial loss if they lose the "bet" by signing the policy!

Hmm.. Ever considered this alternate scenario?  The insurance company
is investing in your health like it is stock.  When the value of that
stock is beginning to decline they sell it off.

Also, the policy that is signed gives the insurance company specific
permission to cancel or raise the premiums.  If the policy simply
said "Insurer shall pay all medical expenses for the life of
the insuree regardless of cost and insurer no right to cancel or raise
the premium", then you would be correct.  In other words, if you want
a foolproof insurance plan, find a contract that guarantees it.  If you
sign one that gives the insurance company those rights up front to
cancel the policy, is it your fault or the insurance company's for doing
wise business?

>If the person has AIDS and is trying to get health insurance converage
>after the fact, then they should be denied because there is no risk
>to either party (Insuree is guaranteed to come out ahead and the
>insurer is guaranteed to loose money).

Biggest problem here is that the fact that medical insurance is not a 
social right, but a free market business.  Unless we establish some sort of 
socialized medicine this problem will exist.

Although the way Rush puts it... this would not be a problem anyways
because we are a "compassionate society" and won't let people die.
I'm not sure what he meant by this.  Recently in Illinois the legislature
proposed a very large tax on suburban hospitals to pay for those Chicago
hospitals that were treating patients without insurance.  Unfortunately,
many of the nurses and aids in these suburban hospitals are already being told 
they are getting no raises because the hospitals are losing money.  Most
of these hospitals are terribly understaffed also.

Anyone have any ideas on this one?

>On something totally unrelated, I've noticed that Rush has started 
>making personal attacks on his enemies.  For instance, he said
>Patsy Schroeder looks like she's constipated when she smiles (she does!).
>It's a very accurate description and her smile *is* extremely annoying
>but I'm worried about Rush loosing credibility by making these statements.

Have you heard what these same people have been saying about Rush for
all this time? Guess I can't begrudge him this. 


>--
>+---------------------------------------------------------------------+
>|Dick Wallingford      | Internet: dickw@iastate.edu                  |
>|Center for NDE        | Packet  : wd0anb@n0an.ia.usa.na              |
>|Iowa State University | I'm not a musician, but I play one in a band | 
>+---------------------------------------------------------------------+




EDWARD SIMMONDS

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