Sunday, March 21, 2010

The definition of 'chronic' by InterGlobal sounds as though it applies to annual physicals.

People are underinsured by most companies. There is no good relationship can exist between a corporations profit margin and human health and life.


InterGlobal has entered into a unique and exclusive partnership in the international private medical insurance market with security experts red24 to provide planholders with 24/7 security services as part of your membership.

This will give you the support of 400 specialists worldwide who can help you reduce the risk of things going wrong whilst overseas, and to be at hand for any security related incident.


Interglobal's head quarters are in the United Kingdom. (click here) They seem to be able to dodge the responsibility of actually providing the coverage they contract to by excessive language and unreasonable definitions. Similar to a Investment Bank financial instrument. I can't wait for that debate to start over regulation. It is going to be more than interesting to realize exactly what kind of game these folks are playing. We really are better off without them.

When one stops to realize how completely outrageous the health insurance industry is, one has to ask, "What the heck are the judges doing that are hearing these cases and actually allowing them to get away with it?" I mean seriously. The judges of contract law are THAT ridiculous in their perspective? It is fraud.

A contract cannot give with one hand and take it away with the other. That is bait and switch at its worst as it plays with people's lives in a way that can cause their death. Just because the 'fine print' states an illness is excluded, doesn't mean the person purchasing it understands all the intricacies. This is nonsense. People purchase health insurance to cover their wellness and recovery from illness. It is incredible what verbiage that judges actually believe is appropriate.

I am sorry to hear about your friend, Mr. Kristof. It is simply outrageous these fraudulent practices are tolerated. I don't know what is "W"rong with the law anymore. Fundamental understandings of these issues seem to evade the justice that is suppose to be supported by courts. The 'coverage' should be awarded in the face of 'bad language' and 'bad attitude.' No one ever said the folks that write these policies either were brilliant or knew at all what they are doing.


A story by Nicholas Kristof (click title to entry - thank you)

...I reached Sophie Walker, the group head of claims for InterGlobal. She said she couldn’t talk about an individual case. But she explained in an e-mail message that with a “chronic condition” the policies can have a much lower limit, $85,000, on lifetime claims. That’s the limit that Jan ran into in January, Zack says....

Then Ms. Walker gave me the company’s definition of “chronic” (you couldn’t make this up):

“Chronic means a medical condition which has at least one of the following characteristics: has no known cure; is likely to recur; requires palliative treatment; needs prolonged monitoring/ treatment; is permanent; requires specialist training/rehabilitation; is caused by changes to the body that cannot be reversed.”

That sounds like a spoof from “The Daily Show.” To translate: We’ll pay for care unless you get sick with just about anything that might be expensive. Then we’ll cut you off at the knees.

I asked InterGlobal if this was an accurate translation. I noted that by its definition, cancer, heart disease, strokes, diabetes, tennis elbow and even athlete’s foot seemed to be “chronic.” I also asked InterGlobal to name any serious disease that it did not consider “chronic.”...