Insurance companies issue costly denials

As I was reading Jane Terlion's Nov. 18 letter ("Before Insurance"), I immediately thought, "This person has to be an employee of some insurance company ...." And I was right! Ms. Terlion, who works for Highmark, as pointed out by the PG, exclaimed, "Insurance companies aren't the bad guy here!"

Well, can anyone at Highmark or any other insurance company explain to me why my quadriplegic friend was denied by his health-care provider a $400 wheelchair cushion to prevent body sores (because of some insurance company), yet that same health-care provider (because of some insurance company) could perform the $20,000 surgery to correct the body sores that ultimately did develop?

And how about my diabetic friend, who fights regularly with his health-care provider (which has to check everything through some insurance company) over various medications that won't be covered, but that same health-care provider will get payment from the insurance company for amputation costs for toes and even half of a leg because of diabetic complications?

And how many millions of Americans have been told by some insurance company, "Coverage denied because of pre-existing condition ..."? The insurance companies are absolutely the biggest part of the problem with health care in this country! And the pharmaceutical companies are right behind.

C.A. ARCURI

Scott