We've all heard the horror stories of insurance companies denying coverage and hiking up prices on the basis of "pre-existing conditions." Too many of us have had this happen to us or our loved ones. But sometimes these stories switch from tragedy to farce, and we can really see how absurd it is that these insurance companies exercise so much power over our healthcare system.

Check out this story reported in the Chicago Tribune (emphasis is mine):

Even by insurance company logic, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois' decision to deny payment for Mitchell Berkowitz's tests was puzzling.

The 11-year-old had always been short for his age, ranking near the 5th percentile for growth. As he neared puberty, his mother, Julia, was concerned he might have an underlying condition that would prevent a normal growth spurt.

In July, she told Mitchell's pediatrician her worries, and the doctor ordered testing. The tests showed Mitchell would grow to a height of about 5 feet 5 inches-a stature his pediatrician and mother both considered normal.

Blue Cross even sent Julia Berkowitz a letter saying the insurance company agreed that her son had no growth-related conditions.

Still, Blue Cross refused to pay the $1,160 in claims, maintaining that Mitchell's pediatrician had diagnosed "short stature" before the tests were performed. Blue Cross took that to mean he had a pre-existing condition.

Berkowitz was confused. How could her son have a pre-existing condition if the tests show he does not, in fact, have that condition?

So a mother expresses a concern to her child's doctor, and because that concern was reported on his medical records, it suddenly became a "condition" that the company used to try to deny payment - payment for tests that confirmed that the child didn't even have the condition!

In the end, the mother was able to get the situation fixed with the help of a Chicago Tribune reporter. But as she remarked at the end of her ordeal:

"I feel like I've just had my eyes opened to what the industry is," Berkowitz said. "I just don't feel all that satisfied knowing this is a situation that's probably all too common."

One by one, we all open our eyes to what needs to be done - together we can make our voices heard and take back healthcare!

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