By Ady BarkanTwitter January 16, 2018. 12:56 PM. The Nation.

Excerpts only. Read complete article here. 

I have ALS, a deadly, incurable neurological disease that is paralyzing my whole body, including my diaphragm. This makes it difficult for me to breathe while lying flat in bed. This month, my doctor prescribed me a Trilogy breathing-assistance machine, which would solve the problem (at least for now). Yet my insurance, Health Net, denied coverage, calling it “experimental.”

But Trilogy is normal standard of care. The doctor’s office told me they had never seen it denied in more than six years of prescribing it. I’m not alone in having my time and energy wasted; millions of Americans have had similar experiences with their insurance provider. Many have suffered or even died, because they didn’t get the care to which they were legally entitled. And, if we don’t fundamentally change our health-care system, there will be many more deaths. Instead of focusing on providing quality care, our system prioritizes shifting costs and maximizing profits.

But what if we had a system where all appropriate care was paid for smoothly and without struggle? We could save enormous amounts of time and money, allow doctors to do their jobs, and let patients focus on living more dignified and fulfilling lives.

My complaint about the denial of coverage on Twitter went a bit viral. I asked the Twitterverse what I should do about the problem: start a petition, file a complaint with the insurance commissioner, or maybe hold a protest. (The vote was a tie between launching a petition and filing a complaint.)

I’m glad the problem got resolved. I’m looking forward to breathing and sleeping better at night. But I am outraged about this health-care system. There is zero chance Health Net would have moved so quickly if I didn’t have a Twitter following.

Millions of Americans are denied care every year. Few of them have megaphones to intimidate large companies into quick action. And so they suffer and spend their precious hours fighting with profit-seeking, opaque bureaucracies.

. . .

I believe that Health Net’s behavior is a symptom of a broader sickness not just in our health-care system but in our political economy. The flaws in the for-profit health industry derive from and exemplify the most inhumane aspects of capitalism: how the constant pursuit of lower costs and higher revenue incentivizes the erasure of the individual, and of her dignity, from the firm’s consideration. And thus from consideration by the body politic.

It’s an unjust way to run a health-care system. It’s an unjust way to run a country.

 Read complete article here.