Comments on: Sunday’s column: Snared in government red tape

By: Sandi Saunders

Sandi Saunders — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 21:47:53 +0000

It is funny how the worm turns with some on this blog.

By: Old blue

Old blue — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 00:03:52 +0000

I, too, have run into red tape with both private firms and the government. It’s never any fun, but in my experience it is easier to find that ONE person who will listen and understand you in the private sector. Once upon a time I had a problem with GI bill benefits. I sent letters. I got back ever more threatening computer generated messages. It took intervention by my congressman’s staff to straighten it out. And did everyone read the article about the VA ? I believe it is taking them 9 months to process benefit claims, with an error rate of 14%. Wow

By: FK

FK — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 23:54:24 +0000

This is typical of what goes on in so many places today, either private or government. It’s surprising today when you actually find competency.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 16:07:12 +0000

This story is unfortunate, but no worse than, as people have pointed out, dozens of stories of private health insurance fiascos.

The fact is, this family was being provided a government service, on the taxpayers’ dime, for which they were ineligible. She says she informed them and she likely did, but when people beat the “Eliminate welfare fraud!” and “Welfare queen with a Cadillac”" drums, stories like this are going to come up. The government is trying to get “our money” (per the anti-tax folks) back. The right should be applauding it. Just because you know her name and story doesn’t make her any different.

By: Dan Casey

Dan Casey — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:49:52 +0000

Back in 2011 we got totally hosed by Anthem. I spent hours on the telephone, talking and pleading to faceless Anthem bureaucrats in Virginia, Georgia and Missouri. They were all like, sorry, that should not have happened, but there’s really nothing I can do. This all had to do with coverage for my daughter who had been through a series of mental health crises.

Then I found the email address of Angela Braly, then CEO of Wellpoint, on Consumerist. And I spent a couple of hours crafting what I thought might be an effective email to her and sent it. Her assistant was calling me in less than 3 hours, to straighten the mess out.

By: gdad

gdad — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:33:03 +0000

Yeah, Henry, get back to us after you tangle with a private health insurance red tape machine.

How did I know Henry would be the first right winger to post a completely biased and unbalanced reply?

By: gdad

gdad — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 15:29:11 +0000

Hooray for Wallis for being reasonable and going with his gut but it’s also clear that Melissa made some very basic mistakes, mistakes that will also ensnare you in private business red tape. What do you think your bank, or utility company or health insurance company will say or do if you go to them and plead that you sent them a notice but, no, you really can’t prove you did? My computer crashed is often today’s version of the dog ate my homework. And given the fraud that goes on, don’t we want out bureaucrats to be suspicious of unproved claims?

We’ve had to deal with the IRS twice, once because of their error and once because of ours, and in both instances, it was cleared up with hardly an eye blink. OTOH, we fought epic battles with Sears and with Blue Cross, both over matters that started with their mistake that then got caught up in their red tape machines.

By: Kristen

Kristen — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:57:48 +0000

We need to bring in some Polish fixers from Marks column.

By: Eddie

Eddie — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 13:51:23 +0000

Very unfortunate for this family. This is case where a family needed help to get back on their feet, and quickly did that: got back on their feet. But classic example of government inefficiency. I’m mean our tax dollars are also going to pay the portion of the salaries of the system that continues to shake hardworking people like this down. Imagine this on a much larger scale commonly referred to as Obamacare.

Thanks to Melissa’s husband for his service to our country. She should be equally proud of herself for working hard for her family.

By: Henry

Henry — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 12:57:19 +0000

And we want this same government to run our health care through Obamacare.