The Crime of Health Insurance

Re “Surviving Cancer Is Half the Battle” by Sue Reilly in Valley View, July 11:

If you think only cancer or AIDS can shut you out of insurance benefits, think again. Several years ago I was stunned to find that I could not get health insurance for my two healthy twin sons.

They had minor surgery to place tiny tubes in their ears. This is a common procedure to stop persistent ear infections, performed on thousands of children per year. There were absolutely no problems or complications, save one: My husband had changed jobs and his new insurance company labeled my children as having a “pre-existing condition.”

This insidious term can turn a case of acne into a gut-wrenching financial disaster.

We were eventually able to obtain insurance, but I will never forget my fear and anger over this loss of trust. There’s no choice--you must buy health insurance. It’s like paying the Mafia for protection. When it comes to organized crime, nothing beats the health insurance industry.

SUSAN AMERIKANER

Chatsworth