A much needed breakdown of the U.S. health care system, with a focus on those having the most trouble getting insurance. Great array of anecdotes. Health care reporting, as we've seen, can be very inconsistent, even contradictory across publications. Stories as in-depth and comprehensive as this are rare.

Informative series on the nation's health insurance crisis, which points to the difficulty of getting affordable insurance in today's troubled economy. This in-depth report provides ample factual evidence from multiple sources, contrasting different case studies involving typical consumers rejected by insurance companies. The article provides invaluable insights, pointing to the low level of regulation over insurance companies, who are often free to "cherry-pick the healthiest consumers."

A solid overview of what is happening to "uninsured" Americans. Interesting insights into the insurance industry's policies towards avoiding high risk patients. Eye-opening quotations from those in the insurance industry are very clarifying.

This is the first of three installments and, as such, my ratings might change as other segments are published, perhaps showing the physicians' side as well as cases where private insurers saved the health pool funds by exposing fraud. That said, the article lives up to the promise of its headline: The private health care system truly is eroding, both presidential candidates intend to maintain it, and consequences often spell financial or physical ruin for those who must rely on it. While the writing is engaging, personalizing the content with anecdotes, and while the subject is more pertinent than ever, the article suffers somewhat from lack of in-depth research connecting the dots so that readers can envision "the big picture." ... More »

This article presents a very accurate picture of just why the private sector has failed to provide effective, affordable insurance to a large segment of the American population.

As a 58-year-old, self-employed woman, much of this has happened to me. I don't have much coverage because I can't afford it. And I'm in better health than most of my friends. But I was refused a policy because of a pre-cancerous skin lesion the doctor froze off my nose. I live in fear that something will happen to me because I don't trust the insurance company to honor the claims or keep my policy. My old company already denied coverage for a standard test that was part of the coverage I pay for, and that they'd already pre-approved. Then Insurance Commissioner Garamendi made them cover it. But, had I not sat next to his wife at a political fundraiser, I might not have gotten that help either. If you too want coverage like ... More »

Lots of anecdotes about problems patients have with insurance companies. Could be much more concise, use more statistics, include problems physicians and hospitals have with insurance companies, and correlate with information about the health care system.

A lot of good facts and figures; I also liked the concluding story about the guy losing his thumb and how he handled it; it reminded me of the recent installment of PBS' "P.O.V." about a man with diabetes.

The article fed the flames of seething anger I've had about the heath insurance industry for the past thirty years. But with so many sad, sad tales of "med-woe" out there, it couldn't have taken much discovery work to find them. Ergo, Girion & Hiltzik's piece is more of an update of a long-term problem than it is incisive, prescient journalism. Sure would make a great first chapter in an in-depth study of the problem — especially were it to advocate for universal health care.

Yes, it is very informative.

I think this is a good article to show people how difficult it is to receive medical insurance. I also like how they have a "Share your Story" section, so that people can get their issues out for everyone to hear about.