Should insurance companies cover "faith based healing"?

[Miles Teg]

Specifically, should insurance companies be forced to cover Christian Scientist prayer meetings, like any other medical program?

That's what the senate version of the healthcare bill going through congress would mandate, according to the LA Times. Technically, this simply states that insurance providers may not discriminate against faith based services, but in practice, it's mainly supported by the Christian Scientists.

Now, let's get a little partisan hackery out of the way. It's not democrats throwing away our precious money, since overall, the costs of Christian Scientist "healthcare" is minimal. It's also not Republicans cramming religion down everyone's throat. It's a bipartisan bill, supported by liberal Democrats such as John Kerry as well as conservative Republicans like Orrin Hatch.

With all that covered, do you think insurers should cover this sort of thing? Remember, the IRS allows you to deduct your payments to the CSs as medical expenses.

 

[ParkCungHee]

They should be forced to give prayer based payment.

 

[.Shane.]

Good lord, can I get my visit to the psychic or palmist covered?

WTF are they doing this since, other than Snowe and maybe 1 other, no Repubs are going to vote for this anyway.

Since when is Hatch supporting health care reform?

 

[ori]

They should be forced to give prayer based payment.

In God We Trust

probably covers that



Edit: as for the OP: its an eternal fight that I know from Germany - and its always difficult once politicians start doling out compensation - they necessarily will listen more to populist concerns than scientific ones - and usually those that want to include something that is not regarded as a science based treatment outnumber those that will dismiss every non-scientific treatment.
In the end IMHO the US badly, badly needs health insurance reform and if that includes inefficiencies like this - so be it, people opposed to it can always come back later and try to repeal it.

 

[bhsup]

Nope, they should not cover it. Someone wants to participate in faith based healing and is a legal adult, more power to them, but that's their choice to refuse regular medical care and hell no should the government be forced to fund it.

 

[Ecofarm]

If they cover other "wellness seminars", whether it is based on Native American Hair or calmness or teamwork... what's the difference. If some people want some prayer action with their group therapy, well, I bet we could find some group therapy being paid for that is more weird.

I don't like prayer or faith any more than the next guy, but we cannot discriminate against group therapies based on their mantras.

 

[Perfection]

Insurance companies should be free to cover non-standard medical practices if they are so inclined, but the state should not force them to cover any non scientific medical practice.

 

[Miles Teg]

Nope, they should not cover it. Someone wants to participate in faith based healing and is a legal adult, more power to them, but that's their choice to refuse regular medical care and hell no should the government be forced to fund it.

Note: These are private insurance companies we're talking about, unless a public option passes. The thing here is the government saying that insurance companies must recognize these forms of "healthcare" as valid.

 

[mrt144]

How does faith based healing even cost any money?

 

[Bill3000]

How does faith based healing even cost any money?

Priest salaries?

 

[.Shane.]

Note: These are private insurance companies we're talking about, unless a public option passes. The thing here is the government saying that insurance companies must recognize these forms of "healthcare" as valid.

Ah, ok, that wasn't clear to me from the OP.

That said, hell no.

Shouldn't cover anything that isn't legitimate medical practice.

 

[bhsup]

Note: These are private insurance companies we're talking about, unless a public option passes. The thing here is the government saying that insurance companies must recognize these forms of "healthcare" as valid.

My mistake, but my objection still stands. Whether it's government funded or forced private insurance coverage via government statute, it's bs.

 

[FriendlyFire]

I don't like prayer or faith any more than the next guy, but we cannot discriminate against group therapies based on their mantras.

your on fire tonight

 

[warpus]

Specifically, should insurance companies be forced to cover Christian Scientist prayer meetings, like any other medical program?

What the hell do prayer meetings have to do with medicine?

I'm sorry, but that's like my home insurance covering transportation costs to my weekly masturbation seminars.

 

[Ecofarm]

weekly masturbation seminars

Most people just call that "picking up my viagra from the pharmacy".



The thing is, if they allow any quasi-wellness seminars/retreats then they have to allow this "seminar". Once we extend it to scientology, granted, the waters get murkier.

 

[MagisterCultuum]

Then it seems clear they should not be covering quasi-wellness seminars.

 

[cardgame]

Hell no.

Unless I grow up to be a con man.

 

[FriendlyFire]

Most people just call that "picking up my viagra from the pharmacy".

This is the GOP were talking about here !!!
Picking up viagra will probably be punished by stoning.

 

[Death_Machine]

Faith healing would by definition be performed by a person of some sort of religious authority. The conversion of a non believer or the renewed faith of a somebody should be payment enough.

Short answer: no.

 

[Ecofarm]

Picking up viagra will probably be punished by stoning.

Only the female viagra will be banned. The male one is probably in every congressman's batch of pills. Except maybe Kucinich... the vegan... coincidence? I think not.