Health Care Reform

I was sickened, although not altogether surprised, to read about the plight of the orphaned brothers who because of generous donations had their government support cut off by Medi-Cal, leaving them without health insurance and forcing them to postpone needed medical care (“Orphaned Brothers Face New Challenges,” Dec. 28). Something is obviously desperately wrong with a system that allows two innocent boys to be victimized a second time after losing their parents and sustaining extensive injuries in a car accident.

My recent experience with the health care system, although less traumatic, is equally as indefensible. My husband and I were informed in November that our 10-month-old son requires heart surgery to correct a congenital heart defect, which was discovered on a routine checkup. After filling out pre-admission paperwork, we were informed by the hospital that our insurance company would not cover the surgery nor any of the extenuating costs because this was considered a “pre-existing condition,” even though it was not detected until nine months after birth.

Like the relatives of the Forrest brothers, we managed to jump through all the hoops set in place by the insurance company and it looks as though we will be covered for 80% of what they consider justifiable. We were, however, informed by the surgeon that the length of our son’s hospital stay would be determined by “when the insurance company decides to kick him out.” We can only hope that this decision is made in conjunction with input from the pediatric cardiologist and the surgeon.

Hopefully, the Clinton Administration will make good on its promise to take a hard look at health care reform in this country. Until then, these and far worse scenarios will be repeated on a daily basis. People facing catastrophic health care needs (including the estimated 35 million Americans without health insurance) have more to worry about than being jerked around by an already dehumanizing system.

TRACY K. RICE

Los Angeles