Yeah, this is such a shocking story, isn't it? It's been investigated by the HuffPo investigative journalism fund, which has broken many stories lately, and it looks entirely legit.

The idea of government "death panels" might be a complete lie, but apparently rape panels are a reality.

my reaction is that is a terrible thing, if its true.

This is truly sad. Could the health care industry make themselves look any worse? They truly only care about their profit margins. This poor woman, who is HIV free, and had to take medication as a precaution to protect her against AIDS, cannot get health insurance because of it?

Let one of the daughters of the CEOs of these companies get raped and see if they have a problem with THEIR daughters having to take the anti-AIDS medications as a precaution. Bet you they wouldn't have give it a second thought.

I agree Yoga.. this is insane!

Wow. Very sad and disturbing. And she didn't even contract HIV?! Yet, has to wait years to even be considered for insurance. oye vey.

Health care in this country is insane, and I've been saying this since before it was even a hot topic! The fact that things like domestic violence as a pre-existing condition, and being a rape victim as something that can make you lose your chances of getting insurance is terrible! It's bad enough that being poor and sick means you have to pretty much sign your life away to pay off medical bills...

If ever a country needed universal health care, it's the US. We're too f'ed up a country.

still not on board for U-health care and never will be.

CG - have you ever not had health insurance and had a major illness/injury occur? Or been denied health insurance for something minor? Ever owed tens of thousands of dollars because your existing insurance company decided to not cover a medical/life threatening necessity?

Do you at least think that something needs to be done to prevent so many millions of people being denied private health insurance because of bullsh*t reasons such as this?

You have insurance your screwed and if your don't you screwed. I'm I surprised by her health care company no. It's about profit and not human lives which are at stake. Health care needs overhauled in all aspects and accessible for everyone. Imho.

I don't see how this is possible. I work in the medical field and we are always told to get this treatment if we are ever exposed to HIV, God forbid. Would I lose my insurance for being treated for an occupational hazard? Something about this story isn't sitting well with me.

It's appalling to see how this woman was treated. The stream of "insurance companies are awful" stories is turning into a full-on flood these days.

I agree, medenginer. I am lucky enough to have good health insurance, yet just this week I was not able to have a procedure done (my doctor said it was necessary) because the insurance company didn't think it was necessary. And even if they had covered it, I'd still pay $600 out of pocket. This, *with* insurance.

Yoga, I was on my parents health insurance till I was 25, then when I went to sign up for my own i was denied for preexisting conditions, so I went without, but went to the health department for all my health needs. eventually getting on my own insurance through work years later. so it worked out for me.

Universal healthcare isnt going to magically solve our health care issues. not by a long shot.

Ditto for me, BellaSugar. I spent a few days in the ICU earlier this year when a minor surgical procedure caused my throat to swell to the point that I couldn't breathe. My husband and I spent the last month dreading opening the mail every day, for fear we were going to be presented with a bill for tens of thousands of dollars. There's a guessing game of what they will cover and will not cover.

And, by the way, our health insurance is provided by the pharmaceutical industry my husband works for. We have great coverage, and make good money. When we're that scared of it, I can only imagine what other families across the country feel.

Bella - it's so true, that even with insurance, there's a high chance of them not covering necessary procedures. My husband was born with an extra artery that wrapped around his right kidney. He started getting sick and ended up in the hospital. The extra artery had grown so tight around his kidney that it basically acted like a tournaquet on his kidney and he had to have emergency surgery to remove the artery and a portion of the kidney that had died. He had BCBS insurance and they determined they weren't going to cover the operation since it was a birth defect. Even with the doctor waving his fees after he heard what the insurance did, we're in debt $230,000 to the hospital and will probably be paying that off the next 30 years.

He's considered "high risk" now and cannot get insurance on his own. Had my new job not had a clause in their health insurance that stated all new hires and their family members could enroll in the company health plan and would not be denied for pre-existing conditions, he would not have health insurance.

CG - had you ever been seriously ill or had an emergency while you were uninsured that caused you to be financially set back for many years to come, you would be singing a different tune. I'm not sure about universal health coverage, but there needs to be an option for people who are "uninsurable" by the private health insurance companies or for people who are unimployed or cannot obtain health insurance.

Often the people who don't have insurance are the ones who can least afford to get sick and pay the enormous amount of money it costs for treatment.

nope sorry I wouldnt be singing a diff tune, My father in law has no insurance, got cancer and had to go through serious chemo/radiation therapy....they bargained with the hospital beforehand to pay 20% of the bill and the hospital would eat the other 80% it was still alot of moneywhich they have a payment option for each month....didnt cure the cancer and now its back and he is choosing not to go through it again....and its not because of the money.

I work in the healthcare industry, and most of the people I work with agree that Universal healthcare isnt the thing we need.

I agree with Yogaforlife.

The existing healthcare environment is appalling. Don't get me started.

This country needs healthcare reform. As far as I'm concerned, there needs to be an overhaul.

I also totally agree. YogaforLife went into this story in more detail in an earlier thread, and it ranks as one of the most heartbreaking stories I've ever heard about our health care system. I would give you the biggest hug if I could!

The US spends more per-capita than any other developed nation on earth, yet our care constantly ranks among the worst. There has to be a better system than this!

Okay CG, so you don't like universal healthcare, but what about reform for the private insurance companies.

You honestly think it's okay that people die because they can't afford treatment due to not having health insurance or because their existing health insurance refuses to cover something? Or that it's okay for someone to become in debt the rest of their life because they got sick and needed a life saving treatment? That they'll live paycheck to paycheck, never own a home, all because they are hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt for one episode of an illness?

CG - I would love to know what sector of the supposed "healthcare industry" you work in, because my husband is a physical therapist at a hospital, and every surgeon, nurse, doctor, pharmacist, and administrator I have met (which numbers many) are ADAMANT that we need a single payer, universal healthcare system, and we need it now.

It is nice to see that CG is in the minority in this debate. We hear every day about how small businesses are suffering, and how there isn't enough money for health care, but we think it's ok that businesses are paying between $10,000 and $25,000 per year per employee for health insurance, %20 of which is taken right off the top in PROFIT???? This doesn't include administrative costs, etc - this is what the insurance companies are making in PROFIT, and then paying in executive bonuses and dividends to shareholders. Our healthcare is being rationed by economic access. It is a system where the rich are guaranteed better access to healthcare than the poor. That doesn't sound very American to me.

I can't think of a more "American" sentiment than wanting to provide universal healthcare for ourselves and our neighbors. We all agree that we should mutually fund the police, and public schools, and firemen, and roads. Why is healthcare in the sacrosanct of the 'private sector', where we allow people like the woman in this story to be denied health coverage because she was sexually assaulted so that these insurance companies can maximize their profits?!?!?!?/ Why do we let this happen in America???? Call your Senators and Representatives and TELL THEM YOU WANT NATIONALIZED HEALTH CARE. It's the only way forward in my opinion - the only way to protect the liberty of our fellow citizens that is currently being squandered and hindered by illness and economic inequality.

Yet another blatant reason for heathcare reform

Vsugar, I work in a childrens clinic, Childrens medical services in gainesville florida, we work with one of the biggest teaching hospitals in the world Shands Healthcare. I take care of special needs children birth-21 years old. Want to PM me? i can give you my number, my bosses number, the clinic number? or do you want to continue to call me a liar?

I might be a minority on this 22 comment thread but that means nothing in regards to how many people dont want this.

YES i would like to see insurance companies overhauled, ESPECIALLY medicaid/medicare. I just dont want universal healthcare.

Thanks SKG. CG - there's more to fixing the health care industry than just going to universal health coverage.

I just don't understand how anyone can defend the insurance companies when they choose to deny coverage/payment to existing clients when they need treatment for life-or-death situations. Why on earth are we paying for health insurance?

Or how someone can defend the health insurance companies for denying coverage to someone who got a preventative treatment? What I had a mole removed on my back - so now the insurance companies should deny me coverage because there's a chance I'm going to develop skin cancer in the future? At this rate - we're all at risk for future illness and to deny coverage based on future risk (read future insurance company payouts) is absolutely absurd!

Somehow, our health insurance needs overhauled, whether the public health option, universal health coverage, or revamping how the private companies can operate.

You're not alone, CG! I am most definitely against universal health care, too.

Yogaforlife, I don't think anyone here has defended the insurance company in this situation.

I have never defended the insurance companies acting like this woman says they did.

yay Chouette! Thanks for being another voice on here against it!

Well first of all I didn't know it was still legal for insurers to deny coverage based on hiv status. I thought they stopped that but apparently not. This insurer she dealt with is full of crap if that was their concern all they had to do was send her to a Dr. and have her take a blood test if it comes back clean insure her if not then don't since it's still apparently legal to do that $#!+. Hopefully after these new health care regulation pass this Winter we'll be rid of that B.S.

It is a very sad and disturbing story, and how awful and immoral the American Health Ins Co. are. What is the point of health insurance? Health Ins here in America has gotten way out of hand, we need some rules and regulations for these health insurance companies. Though, I still dont think a public option is a good idea.

I don't live in the US but my parents' mex/american insurance company has really helped us. My little brother had a heart condition when he was born and the insurance company paid for everything, except for the diapers he used. At the end of 2008 my dad fell ill and was 8 months in the hospital, he had 3 brain surgeries and had to be on the ICU for 2 weeks. The insurance company paid again for everything! my parents only paid 5,000usd out of a +450,000usd bill.
Honestly I dont know what would my family could have done without our insurance. There is no way that we could have afforded the hospital bills. I think UHC is something that wont happen anytime soon considering that there are many interests involved. I think a lot of people forget that many doctors arent happy with a UHC. Sadly a lot of them became doctors for the $$$.

Of all the forms of inequality, injustice in health care is the most shocking and inhumane -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

I live in a country with universal health care. I was always taught that health is not a business nor privilege for those who have insurance but first and foremost a right - for everyone.

Well said Eilonwy!! If this is true it is absolutely digusting. I'm a canadian and I seriously just don't understand why so many americans are against universal healthcare. If only it were simple enough for the president to say "Whoever wants universal healthcare sign up here, all those who would rather stay either uninsured or with their current insurance companies who may or may not abandon you in a time of need sign up here." Problem solved! lol

Seriously, ms jamerz, you think that Canadian health care is great. Have you ever been sick and had to wait for MRI's or tests, or surgery's or anything but a regular doctor's visit. UHC is theoretically a great idea but for a population a tenth of the size of the US it doesn't work the way it's set out to work. And Canada has had UHC for decades and as the population has grown and aged it's only gotten worse, so how with it work anytime soon in the US if it was implemented.

Yes there needs to be a overhaul to health care, especially the way that some insurance companies work, but UHC for all is by no means the answer, it would just lead to more problems. And this case, well this woman should not have been denied Health care, this is a sad case.

There are also stories of women that are victims of domestic violence being denied coverage because the insurance companies say they have "pre-existing" conditions. Great, huh? Someone, anyone, needs to explain to me what purpose these insurance companies serve! And we've all heard the recent story about Sen Franken's bill regarding rape victims being able to sue (Halliburton in Iraq) and the 30 Repugs who voted against it. Rachel Maddow has invited all 30 of them to come on her show to explain their vote and NONE have agreed. F*cking women-hating cowards, all.

I agree with tvjunkie45, UHC isnt perfect. Lets take for example Canada, my cousin living there wouldn't get his surgery done because his doctor thought that it wasn't necessary. He prescribed him some meds and sent him home. This wouldn't have happened if he had access to other opinions or private health service. He ended up in the ER and had an emergency surgery.

Insurance companies better wise up and realize their days of rampant abuse of power are coming to an end.

These arguments about UHC limiting care for people are so ridiculous, because people in America, who pay through the nose for private insurance are ALSO being denied care - if you decide to go around your current health insurance and pay out of pocket for a procedure or medication they are denying, you can go ahead and do that - IF you can afford it - but most people can't, and so they don't get the care that they need, even when they are spending many thousands of dollars a year on health insurance. If there is an equitable system that rations coverage because of doctor shortages or funding difficulties, this is not morally corrupt like a system that denies care and rations treatment in just the same way, except in order to maximize profits for a very few. Ellonwy has it right, and the rest of us should be ashamed that America is so far behind our fellow industrialized nations.

CG - what is your JOB? You say you take care of special needs children? Are you a nurse? Are you an occupational therapist? I am not calling you a liar, it's just that you say you work in the 'healthcare industry", and I'm sorry, but people who work at insurance companies (spending their days denying people coverage) say they work in the "healthcare industry".

UHC scares me a bit, but almost anything's gotta be better than what we have now. My fiance doesn't have health insurance. What if something horrible happened? He says his family would help, but they don't have that kind of money. I'll be putting him on my plan in a couple of months, but my insurance is pretty bad. $45 a month for a $2400 deductible. Meh.

This system is not universal health care. It's closer to the Swedish system. It's merely a public option, to force our insurance companies to remain more competitive. If you don't have that insurance, you're still fraked. It's a very reasonable, moderate solution.

If a liberal like me was president, I'd put all the insurance companies out of business tomorrow. We'd expand medicare to everyone, and have a single payer system. This, ironically, is the system that the very conservative magazine "The Economist" said would save us the most money.

Conservatives can complain all they want, but we won the election and we're driving the car. They've had eight lovely GWB years to try it their way. Let's try it ours for a while and see if it improves things.

In my early 20's I was in a horrific car accident and had to spend time in the hospital, during my stay they found that I had a huge tumor in my spinal column and that was the reason for the pain I had been experiencing for years. The insurance company covered the measures that were taken from the car accident, but informed my family that due to the fact that the removal of the tumor was elective surgery and I didn't get permission first that they would only cover 20% of the fees. It's not like I decided to have a boob or nose job while I was there. The doctors even helped me with the appeal stating that if the thing had gotten any larger I might have lost the use of my legs or because the tumor was so large that it was pressing against my stomach I would have ended up starving to death within the next year.
Because the surgery was so delicate and required so many doctors and then a prolonged hospital stay I now owe the hospital $540,000, which was still about 40% of the original bill ,the insurance company paid 20% and the hospital took off 20%. For the rest of my life I will be paying off this bill, and because I can't afford to pay as much as they want every month ($2000) it has ruined my credit and unless I win the lottery and I can pay the thing off in one lump sum it will be ruined forever.

While I got lucky with the car accident, there were days, at the beginning where I thought it would be easier on my mom if I hadn't made it. Luckily once the mass amounts of medication they had me wore off I could think with a clearer head.

It's terrible to have to deal with being sick and at the same time wonder if your parents or your family is going to lose their home in order to pay for the bills. We also have had to figure out how to not lose the family home when my mom passes away, because once I inherit it the hospital collection agency will go after it, and even that won't be enough as there is 29.9% interest accruing on the bill.

So, yes I pretty much hope that these people will get knocked off their high horses with some sort of insurance reform, and/or a national health care that will finally take some of the money out of their greedy pockets.

PS All of this was after spending $297 per month for health insurance for over 6 years, and barely ever using it, and I am also not eligible for health insurance ever again, unless I get a group policy, but as a freelance employee that isn't likely to happen.

And Akasha - the sad reality is that $297 a month is virtually nothing when it comes to health insurance.

I'm so sorry to hear that you had to go through such a terrible ordeal. The good news is that you are well now - the bad news is that the stress takes a serious toll on your overall health.

I have been in similar dire circumstances - I had nowhere near the size of the bill that you did, but once had an $80,000 bill (for lung surgery) and once had a $60,000 bill (for a car accident), and I can tell you that you should aggressively pursue settling the bill with them. It MIGHT even be worth consulting with a lawyer - sometimes personal injury lawyers negotiate settlements on bills with their clients, and it's POSSIBLE that you may be able to find one willing to work to try to negotiate a lower fee from the hospital for an agreed upon fee (don't pay anyone anything until they have actually accomplished something with the hospital and you have it in writing). I know a lawyer who once negotiated a bill from $310,000 down to $35,000.

You should also contact your local Congressional Rep's office, and tell them you need help. There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that you should be paying interest on this bill. I would start by contacting the hospital - try to speak with someone in charge - go as high up as you possibly can, and simply say, "I would really like to pay this bill. I have no interest in avoiding or dumping this bill - but the interest is making it impossible for me to do it, so I would like to know what arrangement we can come to that will help us both make sure this bill gets paid."

Vsugar: Thanks for the advise. I have talked to everyone including the one of the owners of the company that owns the hospital. That's when they knocked the original bill down $200,000. They have also agreed to knock down the bill if I can pay the amount that we agree to in full some where around $100G's.
I was able to deal directly with my doctors and have managed to get most of them paid off. I thought paying the people was more important than paying the corporation since they were the ones that actually kept me alive.
After a almost a year of paying the hospital they turned it over to collections and they too want a lump sum payment. The hospital no longer takes my calls.

It's been only recently that we have gotten an attorney involved and his advise is to separate all assets that I share with the family and file for bankruptcy.

Personally I don't blame the hospital I blame my insurance company as this is something that should have been covered. Unfortunately I don't have the kind of money needed to sue them as this isn't one of those cases where the attorney would get a cut of a settlement to pay them off.

I had never considered calling my Congressional Rep, but I will definitely look into that on Monday morning.

Um, I think part of the problem, CG, is that you have not given any reason you are against Universal healthcare except that it will not "magically solve our problems". I think any person with sense knows nothing will do that. So, do you have a real reason to oppose it? Is it a "big government" issue for you or what?

I am a single mama. I wasn't feeling well and ended up in the ER last week. I thought I was having a bad reaction to a flu shot. Turns out I needed my gallbladder removed. I do not have insurance. I'm hoping I qualify for state insurance and they'll cover this debt. Because I know I can't afford to pay this giant bill. But I couldn't work and take care of my kids if I didn't have it done. Having SOME health insurance would have been better than none at all.

If the people who are against universal health can please explain why they are so against, I would like to know. Because even if it would have been a hassle to all the paperwork together for this I would rather have had insurance.

I wasn't aware of how horrible the health system in the US is . No wonder why the private hospitals in Mexico are getting more American patients. In Mexico it costs hundred of thousand of pesos (13 pesos=1 usd) so I guess its a little bit more affordable here than there. Plus we have really really good doctors who often work in the states as well.

this is crazy & horrible

UM. Bela, didnt know I had to state my reasons but here goes.

1) healthcare isnt a right, and its not up to the government to provide healthcare
2) the wait time for doctors, speciality clinics, etc would be way too long for me to consider waiting. I can right now call up my providers, SELF refer and Boom, I am in there tommorow if needed.
3)The data given by people who ranked our healthcare system is wrong and biased and gives a false view of how the US ranks in healthcare.
4) Medicare under the universal healthcare mandate would be out of control, no one has told us what the spend down would be, how they would regulate it.
5)unequal access and problems STILL exist in universal healthcare today.

IT wouldnt solve anything, I agree that the healthcare industry needs and overhaul...but again....UNIVERSAL healthcare isnt the answer.

anonymous, if mexicos healthcare is so stellar, how come illegal immigrants have BANKRUPTED alot of californias hospitals causing american citizens to be without healthcare and facilities to recieve healthcare, not to mention the loss of jobs.

I would like to point out that CaterpillarGirl represents herself as a medical professional by saying that she "takes care of special needs children". She doesn't. She is a secretary. There's nothing wrong with being a secretary, but to suggest that your view on the healthcare debate has some weight other than the average person's view is pretty low and dishonest in my opinion.

And additionally, healthcare SHOULD be a right. Just because YOU and similar selfish people who seem to think the government is our enemy and has no place in providing for promoting "the general welfare for ourselves and our prosperity" (see the US Constitution), doesn't mean that there aren't a great number of us who believe that We The People ARE the government and that we have a right and a responsibility to provide a decent living standard for ourselves and our fellow citizens.

The wait time in Germany, which has a not-for profit healthcare system, is virtually the same as in the US. I had private, GOOD health insurance here in the US and had to schedule a hip surgery 5 months in advance, so your assertion of wait times is not accurate.

The only false view of how the US healthcare system ranks worldwide is, apparently, YOURS. Did you know that the US has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in THE WORLD?!?!??!???

I don't even understand your comment about Medicare. I am uninterested in hearing about how expensive this is supposedly going to be when the health insurance industry currently takes %20 off the top in profits, %24 of the rest of healthcare costs are spent on administrative costs, and we recently gave $2 Trillion in tax cuts to the very rich. GEORGE BUSH Bankrupted this country, NOT the progressives - let's not rewrite history, shall we???

And lastly, you are right - no universal healthcare system is perfect. But at least it is not a system where the rich have better access to better care than the poor. That's not how things are supposed to be in America. Not everyone needs to drive a mercedes and wear Chanel. But EVERYONE should be able to go to the doctor when they are sick. PERIOD. You may not believe that healthcare should be a human right. Well, I think you are wrong, and I think you should be ashamed of yourself.

And lastly, I especially enjoy your final comment here about the various evils of illegal immigrants. I thank you for revealing your true character. Why don't you, Lou Dobbs, and Rush Limbaugh go have a pity party and leave the rest of us alone....

Whappity pow, Vsugar!