Getting Beaten By Your Husband Is A Pre-Existing Condition:
It turns out that in eight states, plus the District of Columbia, getting beaten up by your spouse is a pre-existing condition.
Under the cold logic of the insurance industry, it makes perfect sense: If you are in a marriage with someone who has beaten you in the past, you're more likely to get beaten again than the average person and are therefore more expensive to insure.
***
n 1994, then-Rep. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), now a member of Senate leadership, had his staff survey 16 insurance companies. He found that eight would not write health, life or disability policies for women who have been abused. In 1995, the Boston Globe found that Nationwide, Allstate, State Farm, Aetna, Metropolitan Life, The Equitable Companies, First Colony Life, The Prudential and the Principal Financial Group had all either canceled or denied coverage to women who'd been beaten.
***In 2006, Democrats tried to end the practice. An amendment introduced by Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), now a member of leadership, split the Health Education Labor & Pensions Committee 10-10. The tie meant that the measure failed.
All ten no votes were Republicans...
Imagine my surprise.
Still think we don't need health insurance reform?
2 comments:
It is beyond appalling. It really is like being beaten up again.
Why don't constituents take these bastards -- State governments, legislators and insurance companies -- to task for this? Fortunately one of my hometown Senators is all over it, and I'm proud as hell of her!
Thanks for spreading the word, Dusty. It matters.
All ten no votes were Republicans...
Well, there are enough Dems now to get it done. I guess my question is will you be surprised if they don't get it done?
Not me. They never get anything done.
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