Insurance companies: What were they thinking?

It was over before it started, but still bears discussion.

Perhaps you read about the attempt of Blue Cross of California to ask doctors to report pre-existing medical conditions on their patients so that the health insurance company could cut the subscribers from their rolls.

Blue Cross actually thought doctors have the time and ethical inclinations to search patients’ charts, fill out the necessary forms, then mail them to the company so that their patients would no longer be covered.

I was outraged when I read this story and also questioned the sanity of the executives who made this call. And none of the physicians with whom I spoke said they would do it. One said, “I’m going to toss the requests in the wastebasket.”

This episode sadly confirms what we already know about health insurance companies: that they are in it for the money and care little about their customers. Still, I’m surprised at the boldness and arrogance of this move. A spokesman for the California Medical Association said a few days ago that the policy is "deeply disturbing, unlawful and interferes with the physician-patient relationship."

And according to the Feb. 13 Los Angeles Times, CMA President Richard Frankenstein said, "We're relieved that Blue Cross is ending this particular tactic, but continue to have serious concerns about this company's practices looking forward."

California’s governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, used the occasion to nail Blue Cross for asking doctors "to rat out their patients," and to point out that this incident is an example of the need for health care reform.

Regardless of where you live, other health care insurance companies could try the same thing, or create other inventive tactics to cut from their rolls the people who need insurance the most.

What do you think?