A big health insurer uses A.I. routinely to deny insurance claims, as if above human decency?
In an oligarchy, the richest are above the law.
The justices of the Clarence court (excepting the three more liberal ones) all understand that, at least since Citizens United (2010) the only law of the land is money. Masses of money. Dark money. L…
A big health insurer uses A.I. routinely to deny insurance claims, as if above human decency?
In an oligarchy, the richest are above the law.
The justices of the Clarence court (excepting the three more liberal ones) all understand that, at least since Citizens United (2010) the only law of the land is money. Masses of money. Dark money. Lobbyists’ money. Do-this-for-me money. Corporate thank you money.
There’s an emoluments clause in the Constitution. The convicted criminal has been hawking watches, guitars, crypto, sneakers, $60 Bibles, $100-dollar coins (of himself), trading cards (of himself), and most recently perfumes (also named for himself). Is he above the law? Did the Clarence court pay any attention to the Constitution where it bans insurrectionists from public office?
Do the American people care about his (lifelong) criminality?
Doesn’t elite impunity happen logically enough when the schools of a country throw out all their humanities, so all get numbed to human consequences?
Seriously… how much money is enough? And let’s not forget…. This is all while WE… those actually paying taxes are funding the healthcare and welfare of these super rich sociopathic morally bankrupt criminals. They are laughing as they pick our pockets and watch us make ourselves sick working to support their mansions and yachts. I’m honestly not surprised at all about the shooting… but my first inclination was to think it could have also been one of the hackers of the health exchange that went down in February. United Healthcare refused to pay ransom and took months to rebuild their system while they paid no claims, held onto their money and destroyed people’s lives. Mind you… this happened during a cash crunch after they purchased doctors and healthcare facilities to rig the system. Apparently sketchy is as sketchy does. Karma.
Karma. Yes. We are being held hostage by felons, abusers and crooks. If folks who voted for Trump ever, ever understand they have been lied to and bought hook, line , and sinker they are going to be pissed. Somehow we have to unmask these craven beings.
Most of his cabinet picks are billionaires. Apparently his voters are for the moment happy to say, “We won! We owned the Libs.” Maybe sooner or later they will feel some cognitive dissonance. Billionaires in charge, billionaires getting tax cuts, how’s that make my life better. . .?
They are also blatantly misogynistic and sexual abusers. Project 2025 is ready to charge straight ahead with abortion denial taken to its most absurd, possibly denying birth control and transgender care as well. Just look at the example of Musk...eleven children "to improve the human race," while their mothers are yesterday's toast.
Excellent questions Phil! My big blue advantage plan dumped me and a thousand other Medicare subscribers off their advantage plan without warning. I went with the only other advantage plan in the area because it seemed easier than going with original Medicare. I will certainly look into it next year, no matter how big they make the flex card amount. I had no idea that Medicare advantage was such a moneymaker for these companies. Duh!
It’s a shock to me that a company would use AI this way to deny claims. The word heartless comes to mind—another adjective to add to the alphabetical list I’ve been keeping for the convicted criminal. (And there’s another!)
Gigi, Two years ago I became Medicare eligible. Almost all of my retired cop cohort were extolling the virtues of the PERS* Advantage plan. Lots of "health related" benefits that people who retire at ages between 50-55 (as we do in law enforcement) were delighted to get. I went to an insurance agency recommended by several different friends, and spent about two hours with them, looking at various plans. Frankly, both the PERS and the Pacific Source (a local public employees insurance carrier) offered pretty good plans. The sticking points for me were that they were local (PNW to Oregon only), plus I really had a distrust of a plan that GW Bush thought was a good one.
I settled on regular Medicare with both a prescription plan and a "Plan G" supplemental plan. When we came back and returned our signed documents, one of the agents said that for the "healthy times" between the ages of 50-70, the Advantage plans were very effective. When the "unhealthy times" or 70+ arrive, they become a nightmare. So far (two years in) I am very pleased with my coverage.
It's imperative to keep as healthy as you can in later years: keep the weight off, stay away from junk food, read labels - if there are a lot oof chemicals in there don't eat it! Lots of fruit, veggies and limit meat but eat the best quality you can afford. Stay away from GMO and fake meat - full of chemicals. Go for walks everyday.
Good advice. The weight here is my biggest issue, and that stems from the deteriorating joints I so wildly abused playing and officiating softball as well as the 28 years of shift work that impacted diet, exercise, and healthy sleep. The only meat I buy is beef raised under organic conditions (the reason they cannot label it "organic" is because they will infrequently use antibiotics to treat eye or hoof infections and because they butcher on site with a non-organic certified but adhering to organic practices butcher so the cattle don't have the trauma of travel to an unfamiliar place prior to slaughter. I will infrequently buy pork (shoulder and ribs; hey, I'm a "smoker" of Traeger variety, and there's nothing like good ribs or pulled pork) from a local pig farm that is very close to organic standards and nitrate free.
My sister-in-law does the cooking in our house and loves her Traeger. My wife has been a vegetarian for over 30 years, and the Traeger smokes vegetables and fish really well.
The dog and I share a breakfast sandwich so we get our meat protein. Not as healthy as your beef though.
When we lived in Nebraska one of my co-workers raised and butchered 5-10 head every year. He finished them off on grass. What a treat!
Re: "FAKE MEAT" Not too long ago, I was a vegetarian and ate copious amounts of 'better burgers' until I read the ingredients of these so-called "healthy" alternatives!
I’m glad that you saw this today. I’m an acupuncturist with some training in nutrition from eastern and western perspective. I treat a lot of arthritis. Sugar is the worst thing for arthritis for our health and general. Read the labels keep it at a minimum. You’d be surprised the products that have a whole Lotta sugar in them like ketchup for one.
I got "Plan F" through the American Bar Association -- meaning powerful ABA bargaining power for good terms. Use your 🦾 through your retirement org: teachers, nurses whatever "group" bargaining power you can muster.
I added on a "Supplemental Policy" through Transamerica that even pays for the Medicare premium & the 20% Medicare does not cover that goes to the provider.
Me? Zero, nada. Yo necessario 💰dinero for my Granddaughters' future.
I also like the succinct easy-to-read Transamerica quarterly statements instead of a blizzard of paper in the mailbox. To your health at all times!
Brian A new insight into ‘pro bono.’ My only bar benefit is when I find a bar that makes a scrumptious planter’s punch. Otherwise, I am a barbarian. [apologies]
Ally Sounds like you are dancing on the yellow brick Medicare road well. At 91 I have had Medicare plus AARP (United Health Care) for a generation. I have enjoyed the full access to doctors without pre permission. I can’t remember when I have paid a copay.
I am bothered by how various doctors seem to be paid by Medicare. The person who takes wax out of my ear gets a higher reimbursement than the surgeon who performs my semiannual bladder cancer procedure. It makes no sense—I bring the bladder guy a bottle of wine.
Overall, my health care access and cost is more favorable since before I qualified for Medicare. However, I would appreciate a planters punch when I am obliged to wait for over an hour when I have a scheduled doctor’s appointment.
You chose wisely. On Medicare for twelve years; have paid nearly nothing while suffering broken elbow, rotator cuff repair, knee injury, congestive heart failure and afib. New cardiologist, a young Arab American, got me on the right meds four months ago, dropped fifty unneeded pounds and, at 77, feel healthier than I did twenty years ago. Yay Medicare. Go ahead, T****, try to take it away. I dare you.
No shock at all if you remember that all they are concerned with is profit at all costs. These days, it's best to use that idea when dealing with publicly traded businesses. Stock prices and the investors are all they care about.
Prior to going on Medicare, I'd done a good deal of reading & decided it was to our advantage to purchase Medicare & a supplement via AARP. SO far, so good. I chose a plan that had a $200 plus ( annual ded. Per person for doctors- increases a bit each year). But our " out of pocket" costs thus far have not been too bad. I'm a bit older than him & he rarely sees a doctor, other than a chiropractor; which is largely out of pocket, but reasonable for a neck issue hes had since his 20's. Otherwise he's still 150lbs, & walks miles daily..We've been relatively fortunate.
"Do the American people care about his (lifelong) criminality?" That is the question that depresses me. How could so many millions of US citizens vote for the scoundrel?
Marvelously written!! In Trump's world opposing policies is easier than making tough choices or legislating. And norms, like the emoluments clause, have now become ill-defined, making them vulnerable. What lies ahead - organized crime, coordinated by the government.
He, and his family and cronies, totally ignored the Emoluments Clause last time he was king and there was a bit of minor bluster from our lawmakers and that was it, no enforcement as usual. It will be no different this time except this time he will not relinquish the throne. The Constitution means nothing.
Nothing was done bc there’s no there there under the emoluments clause. And they knew it. It was a Democratic Party in congress meme for political consumption by the party hoi polloi. And as George Carlin said, “It’s a big club and you ain’t in it.” Though it’s a bit smaller now post November 5.
The emoluments clause has no application to President Trump. None from a legal perspective. Zero. But I’m wondering if Heather C-R has any fact history lesson on the George Washington’s sales from his estate farm during his Presidency?
Thanks for the recco. I’ve read some reviews and appears to be a good page turner on FF’s relationships and tribulations. I know at one point I’ve read a bit about Washington’s Mount Vernon that produced all manor of goods, crops, livestock and sundries for sale. I bet he must have had a few “Washington “ eye popping signs hither and yon to bring in the customers. Like an emolument’s violator. I’ll try the book out. Thanks again.
All good points. I’m spending much of December reading. The current issue of The Hedgehog Review: Critical Reflections on Contemporary Culture, published by IASC of the University of Virginia, is a great place to start.
A big health insurer uses A.I. routinely to deny insurance claims, as if above human decency?
In an oligarchy, the richest are above the law.
The justices of the Clarence court (excepting the three more liberal ones) all understand that, at least since Citizens United (2010) the only law of the land is money. Masses of money. Dark money. Lobbyists’ money. Do-this-for-me money. Corporate thank you money.
There’s an emoluments clause in the Constitution. The convicted criminal has been hawking watches, guitars, crypto, sneakers, $60 Bibles, $100-dollar coins (of himself), trading cards (of himself), and most recently perfumes (also named for himself). Is he above the law? Did the Clarence court pay any attention to the Constitution where it bans insurrectionists from public office?
Do the American people care about his (lifelong) criminality?
Doesn’t elite impunity happen logically enough when the schools of a country throw out all their humanities, so all get numbed to human consequences?
Seriously… how much money is enough? And let’s not forget…. This is all while WE… those actually paying taxes are funding the healthcare and welfare of these super rich sociopathic morally bankrupt criminals. They are laughing as they pick our pockets and watch us make ourselves sick working to support their mansions and yachts. I’m honestly not surprised at all about the shooting… but my first inclination was to think it could have also been one of the hackers of the health exchange that went down in February. United Healthcare refused to pay ransom and took months to rebuild their system while they paid no claims, held onto their money and destroyed people’s lives. Mind you… this happened during a cash crunch after they purchased doctors and healthcare facilities to rig the system. Apparently sketchy is as sketchy does. Karma.
Karma. Yes. We are being held hostage by felons, abusers and crooks. If folks who voted for Trump ever, ever understand they have been lied to and bought hook, line , and sinker they are going to be pissed. Somehow we have to unmask these craven beings.
Most of his cabinet picks are billionaires. Apparently his voters are for the moment happy to say, “We won! We owned the Libs.” Maybe sooner or later they will feel some cognitive dissonance. Billionaires in charge, billionaires getting tax cuts, how’s that make my life better. . .?
They are also blatantly misogynistic and sexual abusers. Project 2025 is ready to charge straight ahead with abortion denial taken to its most absurd, possibly denying birth control and transgender care as well. Just look at the example of Musk...eleven children "to improve the human race," while their mothers are yesterday's toast.
Almost as if they are chosen for their reputations for sexual assault, or in Linda McMahon’s case, turning a blind eye.
Baptist Health was caught up in that mess. I had to pay a bill that was covered and sent to collection. It took six months to get the money back.
Excellent questions Phil! My big blue advantage plan dumped me and a thousand other Medicare subscribers off their advantage plan without warning. I went with the only other advantage plan in the area because it seemed easier than going with original Medicare. I will certainly look into it next year, no matter how big they make the flex card amount. I had no idea that Medicare advantage was such a moneymaker for these companies. Duh!
It’s a shock to me that a company would use AI this way to deny claims. The word heartless comes to mind—another adjective to add to the alphabetical list I’ve been keeping for the convicted criminal. (And there’s another!)
Gigi, Two years ago I became Medicare eligible. Almost all of my retired cop cohort were extolling the virtues of the PERS* Advantage plan. Lots of "health related" benefits that people who retire at ages between 50-55 (as we do in law enforcement) were delighted to get. I went to an insurance agency recommended by several different friends, and spent about two hours with them, looking at various plans. Frankly, both the PERS and the Pacific Source (a local public employees insurance carrier) offered pretty good plans. The sticking points for me were that they were local (PNW to Oregon only), plus I really had a distrust of a plan that GW Bush thought was a good one.
I settled on regular Medicare with both a prescription plan and a "Plan G" supplemental plan. When we came back and returned our signed documents, one of the agents said that for the "healthy times" between the ages of 50-70, the Advantage plans were very effective. When the "unhealthy times" or 70+ arrive, they become a nightmare. So far (two years in) I am very pleased with my coverage.
*PERS: Public Employees Retirement System.
It's imperative to keep as healthy as you can in later years: keep the weight off, stay away from junk food, read labels - if there are a lot oof chemicals in there don't eat it! Lots of fruit, veggies and limit meat but eat the best quality you can afford. Stay away from GMO and fake meat - full of chemicals. Go for walks everyday.
Took your advice years ago. Middle aisles are processed to the max. I don’t miss the crap. look at ingredients, scary stuff
Yes!
Wish I had done so decades ago…
Good advice. The weight here is my biggest issue, and that stems from the deteriorating joints I so wildly abused playing and officiating softball as well as the 28 years of shift work that impacted diet, exercise, and healthy sleep. The only meat I buy is beef raised under organic conditions (the reason they cannot label it "organic" is because they will infrequently use antibiotics to treat eye or hoof infections and because they butcher on site with a non-organic certified but adhering to organic practices butcher so the cattle don't have the trauma of travel to an unfamiliar place prior to slaughter. I will infrequently buy pork (shoulder and ribs; hey, I'm a "smoker" of Traeger variety, and there's nothing like good ribs or pulled pork) from a local pig farm that is very close to organic standards and nitrate free.
Got my weight down to 145, don’t smoke, and a single beer nightly, but at 91 BBQ spare ribs and ice cream are essential to maintain my sanity.
I don’t want my final cry to be for St Louis spare ribs.
Keith, wish I could get you some of my baby back ribs....
Stay away from sugar - it's the worse thing for arthritis!
And vegetable oil! I think someone here recommended "Deep Nutrition: Why your genes need traditional food" by Dr. Catherine Shanahan.
She's not a fan of sugar of vegetable oil as she was an ER doctor and treated many cardiac arrests and strokes.
Indeed it is!
My sister-in-law does the cooking in our house and loves her Traeger. My wife has been a vegetarian for over 30 years, and the Traeger smokes vegetables and fish really well.
The dog and I share a breakfast sandwich so we get our meat protein. Not as healthy as your beef though.
When we lived in Nebraska one of my co-workers raised and butchered 5-10 head every year. He finished them off on grass. What a treat!
Grass fed totally worth the price, local if you can find it. Cheap food is not worth the health hazards.
Re: "FAKE MEAT" Not too long ago, I was a vegetarian and ate copious amounts of 'better burgers' until I read the ingredients of these so-called "healthy" alternatives!
Relieved that I’ve read this in the HCR comment section. Somehow I’ve never heard any of that advice. /s
I’m glad that you saw this today. I’m an acupuncturist with some training in nutrition from eastern and western perspective. I treat a lot of arthritis. Sugar is the worst thing for arthritis for our health and general. Read the labels keep it at a minimum. You’d be surprised the products that have a whole Lotta sugar in them like ketchup for one.
Terry Some of the lemonade drinks are deadly sugar reciprocals.
Wise Ally, GWB never had a good idea. Chump is even dumber, but a better carnival barker
Everybody: "Advantage" plans are no advantage.
I got "Plan F" through the American Bar Association -- meaning powerful ABA bargaining power for good terms. Use your 🦾 through your retirement org: teachers, nurses whatever "group" bargaining power you can muster.
I added on a "Supplemental Policy" through Transamerica that even pays for the Medicare premium & the 20% Medicare does not cover that goes to the provider.
Me? Zero, nada. Yo necessario 💰dinero for my Granddaughters' future.
I also like the succinct easy-to-read Transamerica quarterly statements instead of a blizzard of paper in the mailbox. To your health at all times!
Brian A new insight into ‘pro bono.’ My only bar benefit is when I find a bar that makes a scrumptious planter’s punch. Otherwise, I am a barbarian. [apologies]
Ally Sounds like you are dancing on the yellow brick Medicare road well. At 91 I have had Medicare plus AARP (United Health Care) for a generation. I have enjoyed the full access to doctors without pre permission. I can’t remember when I have paid a copay.
I am bothered by how various doctors seem to be paid by Medicare. The person who takes wax out of my ear gets a higher reimbursement than the surgeon who performs my semiannual bladder cancer procedure. It makes no sense—I bring the bladder guy a bottle of wine.
Overall, my health care access and cost is more favorable since before I qualified for Medicare. However, I would appreciate a planters punch when I am obliged to wait for over an hour when I have a scheduled doctor’s appointment.
You chose wisely. On Medicare for twelve years; have paid nearly nothing while suffering broken elbow, rotator cuff repair, knee injury, congestive heart failure and afib. New cardiologist, a young Arab American, got me on the right meds four months ago, dropped fifty unneeded pounds and, at 77, feel healthier than I did twenty years ago. Yay Medicare. Go ahead, T****, try to take it away. I dare you.
Good work, James!
But, Gigi, they NEED all that money so they can keep producing and endlessly showing all those horrid TV commercials we’re tortured by!
The commercials should be banned yesterday. Money flushed.
They are pretty awful. Another big reason we don’t own a TV.
No shock at all if you remember that all they are concerned with is profit at all costs. These days, it's best to use that idea when dealing with publicly traded businesses. Stock prices and the investors are all they care about.
Heartless, soulless and lacking humanity. Who needs humanity when you have AI
Prior to going on Medicare, I'd done a good deal of reading & decided it was to our advantage to purchase Medicare & a supplement via AARP. SO far, so good. I chose a plan that had a $200 plus ( annual ded. Per person for doctors- increases a bit each year). But our " out of pocket" costs thus far have not been too bad. I'm a bit older than him & he rarely sees a doctor, other than a chiropractor; which is largely out of pocket, but reasonable for a neck issue hes had since his 20's. Otherwise he's still 150lbs, & walks miles daily..We've been relatively fortunate.
Americans do care about his criminality. Unfortunately, not enough to go to the polls last election.
"Do the American people care about his (lifelong) criminality?" That is the question that depresses me. How could so many millions of US citizens vote for the scoundrel?
Marvelously written!! In Trump's world opposing policies is easier than making tough choices or legislating. And norms, like the emoluments clause, have now become ill-defined, making them vulnerable. What lies ahead - organized crime, coordinated by the government.
Under fascism - for my friends everything, all others the law.
You said it, oligarchs are above the law. Money will almost always keep one from being held accountable!!
He, and his family and cronies, totally ignored the Emoluments Clause last time he was king and there was a bit of minor bluster from our lawmakers and that was it, no enforcement as usual. It will be no different this time except this time he will not relinquish the throne. The Constitution means nothing.
Nothing was done bc there’s no there there under the emoluments clause. And they knew it. It was a Democratic Party in congress meme for political consumption by the party hoi polloi. And as George Carlin said, “It’s a big club and you ain’t in it.” Though it’s a bit smaller now post November 5.
The emoluments clause has no application to President Trump. None from a legal perspective. Zero. But I’m wondering if Heather C-R has any fact history lesson on the George Washington’s sales from his estate farm during his Presidency?
You can get that history, bio on Washington, OverFlowError, from a recent book by William Hogeland, "The Hamilton Scheme."
Thanks for the recco. I’ve read some reviews and appears to be a good page turner on FF’s relationships and tribulations. I know at one point I’ve read a bit about Washington’s Mount Vernon that produced all manor of goods, crops, livestock and sundries for sale. I bet he must have had a few “Washington “ eye popping signs hither and yon to bring in the customers. Like an emolument’s violator. I’ll try the book out. Thanks again.
Well stated!
All good points. I’m spending much of December reading. The current issue of The Hedgehog Review: Critical Reflections on Contemporary Culture, published by IASC of the University of Virginia, is a great place to start.
Apparently not enough people care because the king is getting ready to take the throne, this time for life. He will not leave.
But who will run the asylum when his dementia progresses?
Elon? JD? Susan?
It's almost at a point already they can no longer cover for him.