A Letter to Blue Cross

This is a real letter written by a reader to Blue Cross of California, after they rejected his application for insurance. Because -- I shit you not -- of heartburn. Read the whole thing. It's far more powerful, and illuminating, than anything I write. And if any of you have similar stories, e-mail me.

To Whom It May Concern:

I'm not sure if this letter is going to be read, or even cared about in the
least, but as a taxpaying American I would hope that a responsible
corporation would acknowledge opinions or complaints originating from the
public they aim to serve. Let your corporate conscience be your guide as I
will let my faith in the overall good of people serve me as a motivator to
continue with my opinion.

That being said, I have a serious problem in regards to your eligibility
requirements for individual health care plans. A bit about myself: I am a
very active 28 year old male, who exercises regularly (4-6 days a week),
does not use any tobacco products, eats organic foods whenever possible,
takes vitamins, gets enough sleep, rarely even catches a cold and has
absolutely no history of disease. I recently applied for one of your
"Tonik" health plans because it was finally affordable to me. I have been
without health care for over 5 years and felt that the time had come for me
to make a financial commitment to my health. However, as a young, perfectly
healthy average male, I am appalled that you would deny my claim for health
insurance. After speaking with a representative over the phone, I was told
in a very polite tone and with no hint of sarcasm that I was ineligible due
to the fact that I had had Heartburn in the last 6 months; and furthermore
that I could reapply in 6 months (again with no hint of sarcasm or
acknowledgment of the fact that I clearly wouldn't state I'd ever had
Heartburn if it meant no health care).

Needless to say, I find it insulting and ludicrous that such a benign
symptom as Heartburn can deem me uninsurable by even just one of your plans
Not to mention that I received an email stating that I should apply to the
California Major Risk Program. Major risk of what I ask you? (rhetorically)
Not only are you compelling applicants to lie about seemingly innocuous
symptoms that nearly everyone experiences from time to time (I challenge you
to find any member of society who doesn't experience Heartburn occasionally
from spicy foods or even minor food allergies), but you are standing
hypocritically against the very reason that we are forced have health
insurance in this country. If I can't get health care without insurance
(alas I am not a millionaire), and I can't get insurance to obtain health
care if I need it, then to whom and for what does said insurance serve it's
purpose?

Despite the fact that I am sure this letter is falling on deaf ears, I urge
you to rethink your ethical stance of denying health insurance applicants
the very care that they may need but are financial inept at attaining.

Is your company not in existence for the very nature of helping people
obtain medical care for an affordable cost? If you deny people with a
possible condition the right to affordable health care are you not going
against the mission of your company in the first place? Or is profit all
you care about? And please don't mistake me from the above questions, I
hardly consider Heartburn a costly or even dangerous "condition" in an
average 28 year old male and I'm sure you'd be hard pressed to find a health
care professional who would disagree with me. That aside, had I even a
slightly more serious symptom that would point towards a great need of
health care, than I am certain my claim would have been denied even
faster...if it were humanly possible. Sure, for the right price, any sort
of insurance is possible, but why not try to actually serve the real public?
People who can't afford health care and therefore turn to you as their only
hope.

You have a great responsibility bestowed upon you by our present health care
system. You have the opportunity to bring health to many underprivileged
people (and do not mistake my use of the word 'underprivileged' to adhere to
solely those who are not as fortunate to utilize the market forces for their
personal financial gain…I am only referring to the underprivileged slice of
the societal pie that is without health care regardless of class and such).
And thus, I too am given the golden key of choice. By this you can be sure
I will not be choosing your company's services, and though I am not thrilled
with my other choices, I will seek out a company with a seemingly better
understanding of the massive responsibilities entrusted to it by our
country's present health care system...if it even exists.

Let me close in saying that I don't expect to receive any sort of response
from your corporation. If by some stroke of conscience you are compelled to
respond to my letter, than please refrain from sending me some lawyer jargon
about how you are always right, that it was in the fine print, and that
Heartburn may in fact be a sign of a serious problem. Furthermore do not
respond with statistics or righteous finger pointing, or worse: trying to
sell me a more expensive plan. If you are not writing a heartfelt, sincere
response, then don't bother.

Sincerely,

[Name Deleted]