CNN iReport

Not necessarily. Charles Edwards can't tell his own story. I am telling it but, since I can't ask his permission to use his real last name, I have changed it. All other details are accurate. His is a tragic example of what goes wrong when health care is market driven and not patient centered.
      
Dr. Linda Pino testified before the U.S. Congress May 30, 1996, to bring to light common insurance company practices such as giving bonuses and financial incentives to those making coverage decisions for the insurance company based on the percentage of denials they issued. The more procedures denied, the higher their personal income. What an immoral conflict of interest! 

Dr. Pino called her testimony a confession, admitting that some patients died due to her denial of medically necessary care. She eventually quit her job.  Charles Edwards was covered by another HMO, but decisions made about his care were made strictly on a financial basis. too.  

The top 10 insurance company CEOs average 11 million per year. (That’s $30,000 each and every day of the year.) If the president of BMW makes that much money, it’s none of my business. I don't need a BMW.   But when those salaries and perks make insurance unaffordable for so many Americans, that’s another story.  

Insurance rates have gone up 131% in the last 10 years. Even those covered now may not be able to buy insurance in the future if this continues.  60% of bankruptcies are due to unpaid medical bills. And 75% of those cases were people who are INSURED!

Insurance companies have done only what is best for themselves and have left millions of Americans uninsured or underinsured for decades. They are now spending millions on ads to block healthcare reform using scare tactics and outright lies. Why are we listening?

With their record of ignoring many Americans’ basic needs in favor of a better bottom line for Wall Street, why should we let THEM frame the healthcare debate?

I support health care reform and I believe Americans should have the choice of a strong public option. If the insurance companies have too many expenses to compete - CEO salaries and dividends to stock-holders--perhaps they can also become non-profit organizations.