An story of how an insurance company failed this patient:

There has been no consequence to insurance companies for the poor service they provide. Jane’s insurer did not get sued. There was no investigation. It did not even lose Jane (or me) as customers. On the contrary, when the company denies care, it saves money.

When a reputable insurance company argues that two broken arms are not a medical problem, all of us are vulnerable. Jane did not fall through the cracks. She fell into the Grand Canyon. We can do better. We can create a healthcare system that is efficient, transparent, complete and accountable.

Tragic to be sure. But would Medicare or a similar government-funded program (like the VA) have served this patient better?

While there are plenty of anecdotes of private insurers denying care or providing poor care, I’m not convinced that the alternatives that reformers propose would be any better for patients.