Lawmakers Find $21 a Week Doesn't Buy a Lot of Groceries

[Munchkin03]

Originally Posted by AGDee

In reality, few insurance benefits are easy to get as some people believe. For example, when I worked in mental health and someone's insurance company said they had to leave an inpatient psych unit after 5 days, they would say "But my policy says I get 30 days". They didn't realize that you only get as many days as they decide you need. If someone documents in your chart that you smiled when you are supposed to be depressed then BAM, you're outta there.

But, isn't your story more an example of people not properly reading their policies? Mine clearly states that I have a 30 day MAXIMUM for inpatient mental health care as determined by a physician. People do this all the time--for example, thinking they have a $15 copay on all of their doctor visits, when it's really the only ones in-network.

Most people think you can just mosey up to a VA hospital and get full benefits when that is hardly the case. However, I doubt many people think that they're going to get the full benefits from their HMO/PPO.