Problems With Blue Cross

Re “Hospitals Threatening to Drop Blue Cross,” Aug. 2: I have recently been the unwitting victim of a Blue Cross-versus-hospital conflict over the level of payment for services to me in March 1999. For a bill of $3,495.34 submitted by Arcadia Methodist Hospital to Blue Cross, my two policies paid a total of $344.50--less than 10% of the total. Note that I am covered by two top-of-the-line policies--the most expensive and comprehensive offered by my employer and my husband’s employer. Blue Cross notified me that I owed nothing on this bill. However, the hospital did not accept this and it has continually billed me for an additional $389 it believes it is still owed. Despite numerous phone calls from me, this unsatisfied bill still persists.

Because I have continuing, complicated health problems, I am willing to pay very high insurance premiums in exchange for good medical coverage and the flexibility to see physicians of my choice. In return, I would at least expect Blue Cross to pay at least enough of my bills so that I am protected from being sued for its cheapness. Is that too much to ask?

NORMA STEWART

Arcadia

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The public would be well served to be made more aware of stories such as this, which allude to the rampant corruption and abuse that pervade the health care industry in California. As physicians, we have known for some time that something is wrong when we are denied payment, randomly and seemingly for no reason, for medical services provided under the auspices of existing contractual arrangements with entities such as Blue Cross.

LESLIE B. WYNNE MD

San Gabriel

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In reading the front page on Aug. 2, I realized that there is a big difference in what is needed in America and what the Republicans want to provide. Health care in this nation is degenerating to chaos, with the Blue Cross-hospital situation being the latest example. But what do Republicans want to do for us? They want to give us a stronger military.

Well, I really can’t see anyone who is going to beat up on us militarily, but I do know how many Americans will be sick and without health care in the next few years: millions. That could include me. The country needs a universal national health care system. No matter how inefficient it might be, it can’t be more inefficient than what we have now. And at least everyone will be covered. George W. Bush won’t get my vote in November, because his priorities are very different from mine.

DONNIE DALE

Los Angeles