The New York Times
April 26, 2002
By Milt Freudenheim
Aetna reported a turnaround in its troubled health insurance business yesterday, reflecting sharply higher premiums and the loss of millions of members that it said had been money losers.
Aetna said its premiums would rise 18 percent this year, ahead of medical costs, which are expected to grow 15 to 16 percent.
Dr. John W. Rowe, chief executive of Aetna, said that as premiums rose many employers were passing some costs to employees. Workers, who are paying more in premiums, deductible amounts and copayments, may hesitate before going to a hospital emergency room for, say, a sprained ankle, he said.
Comment: It is reassuring to learn that everyone now knows how to determine whether an ankle injury is a tear of the anterior talo-fibular ligament or a fracture of the distal fibula. If it is a tear, they also know the degree of the tear and the management of each level of severity. Not only that, they also know how to prevent the prolonged disability that results from an enlarging hematoma typical of these injuries. They also understand the rehabilitation measures that will optimize their return to normal function. Or do they? Have we come to the point that any medical problem that is not a life-threatening event is to be considered an abusive use of our health care system by a woose and therefore not worthy of being funded by health insurance?
Dr. Rowe’s insensitive comments confirm that he and others like him should no longer control our health care funds. Let’s throw out this egregiously wasteful middleman industry that is now abandoning its essential role of funding health care.
We know that we can replace this abusive system with a program of national health insurance which would provide truly comprehensive coverage for everyone at a lower cost. What are we waiting for?