THE Health Insurance Council recently presented on a golden plate a new opportunity for insurance companies to delay treating individuals by requiring members of the public to disclose whether they have ever had any of up to 25 diseases before their health insurance agreements are finalized. This decision only aims to protect the profits of insurance companies. I do not know what the benefit of insurance is if it does not help people obtain the necessary medical care. What will happen to them when they are injured? Will the state and the Ministry of Health alone bear the cost of treatment or will they have to pay additional fees? I hope the Council, which is headed by the Minister of Health, makes a just decision since insurance companies are manipulating matters and repeatedly delaying the process of approving necessary medical care. These companies do not work transparently, nor do they have a solid commitment to patients. What do you think will happen if these companies are given the right to refuse treatment if a patient suffers from any of 25 undisclosed diseases, some of which the patient may not necessary be aware of? What will be the fate of these patients when they discover their illnesses? Also, why would this be a patient's problem if the diagnosis is found to be genetic or the result of a benign tumor? Some of these diseases are in need of urgent medical intervention and cannot await the approval of insurance companies. It is sufficient that patients have insurance cards. I believe that the disclosure, which is simply a law to protect the profits of insurance companies, will harm patients and become life threatening because it would be an excuse for the company to stall before consenting to treat a patient. This is unacceptable and poses a danger and threat to the lives of people. Each party must bear the legal responsibilities in such a situation. I understand that companies are granted the right to examine and evaluate people who are requesting services. However, I do not know why they have the right to look at the hospital files of patients in both private and government hospitals and then decide to refuse to cover their medical treatment.
