University of Washington will no longer accept AETNA Insurance?

apennythought said on November 30, 2009 at 11:40 PM

There are plenty of low-cost alternatives for most health problems that aren't even considered in hospitals or by most doctors because they aren't taught as being effective to the doctors in most medical schools because they receive major funding from the major pharmaceutical companies which would lose major profits if people stopped using their products and actually got well. (That was a run-on on purpose.) The obvious solution is for patients, and those who love them, to do some research and learn about more-effective, safer and lower-cost solutions and only hire doctors who will use them. Chemotherapy, when used to combat cancer, has decidedly mixed results for most patients. More effective, safer and lower-cost solutions for cancer will be found at the CancerTutor web site, as well as many other resources not too hard to find. Let's get serious and get free of the medical-business bullies.

shadowchaser said on November 28, 2009 at 6:25 PM

And It wasn't a "blind side" to patients ! The information was sent to policy holders along with information about transferring care to providers at facilities that aren't demanding a 8 % increase for their already overcharged services . If Patients/employees aren't informed by their employers as to how the system works these "horror stories " will continue. Shame on you King 5 for not learning the facts before jumping on the story without knowledge of what your broadcasting !

shadowchaser said on November 28, 2009 at 5:56 PM

Yes, King5 should have waited to get both sides of the story. This is just a symptom of the overarching problem of medical costs. (For those of you who do not understand what that means - MEDICAL COST what doctors and hospitals charge for CARE, not what insurance companies charge for premiums or admin. services). Medical costs as a whole have spiraled up and up with nearly no control. When an insurance company attempts to negotiate discounts from medical providers OR refuses to agree to large increases in what they pay providers for services, they are attempting to save patients money. (Yes, patients - many of us pay all or part of the cost - even when we HAVE insurance.) The increased patient responsibility is due to the fact that employers can't continue to pay the lion's share of the cost of care any longer. Ins. companies are also trying to save employers money (some of whom are "self-insured" - using their own company funds to pay for medical claims). It's all about cost!!

olyhulagirl said on November 28, 2009 at 4:52 PM

I am not surprised by this outrageous rip off. My husband and I retired from the state of Washington in 2008 after over 30 years of service. We saved, worked extra jobs and hours and invested.(we thought wisely in 401K LOL) We moved to Maui, knowing that we would have a reduction of benefit payments of 10%. Unfortunately, I found myself in Maui Memorial for 2 days. $12,000. later, our insurance that we buy from the Wash state retirement system for just under $1000 per month will not pay because we need to see a network (Beechstreet) provider out of state. There are none on Maui. So we were informed that if we moved to Nevada, there were countless Beechstreet providers and our coverage would be rather good. Well we moved back across the ocean to Nevada and recently had some medical visits. Just got the uniform medical explanation of benefits and guess what, they are not covering one dime for a beechstreet Dr. Wake up folks! It will you next.We are screwed and you will be too.

hmoore said on November 28, 2009 at 4:08 PM

It's interesting how so many people make the assumption that the hospitals and doctors only ask for what they need and any pushback from the insurance companies is seen as somehow failing their members. Take a look at all the hospital expansions in Washington State in the last 5 years. Do we need all that granite and marble? Look at the art collection at Swedish Hospital? It rivals the Seattle Art Museum. Millions and millions have dollars have been spent in the last couple of years on hospital and surgery facilities. How much of these dollars will lead to improved patient care? It is pretty simple. Healthcare costs go up. Premiums go up. Deductibles go up and co-insurance goes up. If the insurance companies don't stand up to the unsustainable increases - where will that leave us? I hope that Aetna will work things out. I just don't like the assumption that fingers get pointed at the insurance company first. What is the University doing to contain costs?

tobegolden said on November 28, 2009 at 8:32 AM

Are the insurance companies campaigning for government-run health insurance? Alhough we all know that the private sector has the ability to do a better job than the government, if the private insurers do not get their act together a move to government-run health insurance may be the only real option. What is needed is a move towards consumer based health care; in which individual consumers can use market forces to drive down health care costs. I know that this is easier said than done; and there is really no simple solution. But health care costs have gotten so out of control because the individual consumer (patient) has been kept completely out of the loop.

harrisonhere said on November 28, 2009 at 7:54 AM

The biggest concern would be Harborview is the go to trauma center if someone is involved has life threatening injuries. Is this person with life threatening injuries or illness supposed to tell the LifeFlight pilot - oh hey I have Aetna can you take me somewhere that takes my insurance? There should be coverage for any place you need to go and anyone you need to see!! This is ridiculous and leaves the consumer out in the cold as usual while these large organizations nickel and dime each other.

dakotanative said on November 28, 2009 at 7:46 AM

You mean that the hospital has to pay a fee to use an insurance company? I think this isd a job for the state insurance commish. It isn't like you can change insurance companies mid-treatment. You can't blame the hospital for this fiasco. If the insurance company does not reimburse enough, they lose money. Just like any business. The insurance is like the oil and utility companies. You have to have it, so they can make the rules. They make record profits while bending the customer over.

hmoore said on November 28, 2009 at 7:12 AM

I think it's sad that the Unversity of Washington Health System/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance is using their sickest patients as human shields at the negotiation table. King5 is complicit in that it did not get the other side of the story. You state that you tried calling Aetna several times yesterday but the calls went unanswered. Given that it is a Holiday week-end, I imagine that they are closed! This is a story that could have waited until you had both sides. There will always be people that think that it is always the insurance companies fault and that they should pay out whatever the hospital or physician group wants. How can you negotiate a fair price if you can't walk away? King TV and the University are doing their best to make it impossible for Aetna to walk away and impossible for Aetna to work out a fair deal. At the end of the day, all of us pay!

zaksmom said on November 27, 2009 at 11:16 PM

This isn't the UofW's fault. Insurance companies are raising their rates for subscribers and paying less to providers. Swedish won't be taking Regence BlueSheild after December - because their reimbursement rates are too low. I had a pretty decent Regence policy last year, but they raised it from $185.00 a month to $1185.00 a month at the beginning of 2009. My guess is that like credit card companies that are raising their rates before new rules take affect, insurance comapanies are raising their rates and lowing their reimbursement tables in prep for a national health plan that will not allow them to gouge the consumer like they are now. I find this all very appauling. Aetna needs to make good on the care they are providing cancer patients and those with life threatening diseases until they can find other insurance, which they likely won't because cancer is too much of a liability. Most companies won't take them on. It's a sad day for all of us. Shame on you Aetna.

klondiko said on November 27, 2009 at 11:16 PM

Healthcare providers are out of control. I know they are in business to deny claims but this is getting rediculous. Is swedish accepting regence yet? Get universal healthcare passed!

sealiz said on November 27, 2009 at 6:26 PM

This is just beyond pathetic. Both on Aetna and UW's part. I hope that other hospitals/doctors will now open their practices. Don't they realize how their actions have an impact on PEOPLE? It's all about $ and both of these companies are equally to blame. Thank goodness we're only 3 hours from the border. . .may have to start making the trip there just to get regular health care. Thanks to King 5 for bringing this story to light; I hope you will continue harping on it until both of these companies FIX what's wrong here. I also hope that the state will reduce all of the $ that is given to UW! This really is outrageous.

kmk2cents said on November 27, 2009 at 5:53 PM

UW offers Aetna to it's employees as a benefit. How stupid is that? We can't even use it at the facility where we work. At least Government Run healthcare is one it's way to the rescue. Then I will get NO choice! At least I don't live in Canada.