Fact Checking Anecdotes: Obama Wrong On Particulars In Cancer And Acne Insurance Denial Case

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When President Obama recently recounted the story of a woman he said was denied coverage for failure to own up to a skin condition when she enrolled in a plan, he was incorrect, The Associated Press reports.

"Robin Lynn Beaton, 59, of Waxahachie, Texas, indeed had her insurance suspended and then terminated when she needed it the most. Hers is a cautionary tale about how an insurance company can act in a seemingly arbitrary manner to revoke coverage for lifesaving treatment. But not for the reasons Obama cites." She didn't lose her coverage because of a past skin problem she failed to disclose. "She lost it because, when enrolling in the plan, she had not reported a previous heart condition and did not list her weight accurately."

Obama uses real-life examples frequently in speeches and interviews as part of his push for to overhaul the health system. And "[i]n reflexively blaming insurance companies, Obama is playing into fears that have become a frightening reality for many Americans. Health insurance under the current system is not always the rock-solid guarantee you think you're paying for" (Woodward, 9/29).

This information was reprinted from kaiserhealthnews.org with kind permission from the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives and sign up for email delivery at kaiserhealthnews.org.

© Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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