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Stats show private insurers deny fewer claims than Medicare
By: Mark Hemingway
Commentary Staff Writer
12/04/09 3:38 PM EST
Speaking on the Senate floor today, Sen. Chris "Where's the mortgage paperwork?" Dodd, D-Conn., was telling another sob story about someone being denied treatment by a private insurer. This supposedly demonstrates the need for government run insurance. "That would not have happened under Medicare. Had she been just under Medicare, she would have gotten that help, no questions asked," said Dodd.
But is it really easier to get medical treatment under Medicare than private insurance? The idea that government-run health care would deny fewer claims than private insurers callously concerned about maximizing profits is an article of faith among Democrats. It also happens to be a total myth.
In fact, according to the American Medical Association's 2008 National Health Insurer Report Card, "Medicare Denied 6.85% Of Submitted Claims – A Higher Percentage Than Any Private Insurer Sampled By The American Medical Association." Oh and when a private insurance company denies your claim, you at least have legal recourse. Good luck suing the government.
As for whether Medicare gives help to people "no questions asked" -- Medicare should ask a lot more questions about the claims they do pay out. Even the White House admits over 12 percent of Medicare claims are fraudulent. So Medicare denies more claims than private insurance, and of the ones they do accept, 1 in 8 are fraudulent or improper. By some estimates, Medicare loses seven times as much money in fraud every year than the combined profits of the 14 health insurance companies on the Fortune 500.
If congressional Democrats weren't constantly telling me they know better, I'd say it sure looks like profit-driven insurance companies are more efficient and fair -- than government run health care.
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