Don't let Horizon steamroll our kids! Fire up your pens!

Usually my blogs are fun little quips about my kids' hysterical happenings. Today I am writing on a much more serious note. Recently, Horizon BCBS informed us they were terminating contracts with CHOP and University of Pennsylvania Health System. I thought they were playing chicken as a part of their ongoing contract negotiations. Then we got a letter from CHOP confirming this news. As of March 2009 , Horizon will no longer pay CHOP or UPHS claims.

I am utterly outraged. My children both see CHOP doctors and I have always felt secure knowing that we had the NATION'S NUMBER ONE PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL at our disposal. Now where will we go for this level of care?

The reason this incenses me is that my family, along with over 200,000 other New Jersey teachers, has Horizon insurance because that is who New Jersey has a contract with. We don't have a choice to change providers and now we are being told that our level of health care is being compromised.

I can't seem to make heads or tails if it is really a contract dispute or if it's a political thing. Are NJ lawmakers being pressured to force the insurance companies to keep their business in-state? I'm not sure, but let's write our congressmen and find out! Visit https://writerep.house.gov and find out who your representative is and send him this letter: (there is also an email version that doesn't mention being a teacher at the bottom)

Dear Congressman ________,
I am writing to implore you to get involved with the contract negotiations between Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. As I am sure you are aware, Horizon announced that as of March 2009 they will no longer pay CHOP claims.

My family utilizes CHOP’s services both in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. We have always felt secure knowing that CHOP, the number one pediatric hospital in the nation was at our disposal. We have always received superior care from them and have now come to expect it. I will not send my children to inferior health care facilities all because two money making conglomerates cannot settle a contract dispute.

Horizon justifies CHOP’s recent dismissal by saying it “wants to get New Jersey residents to use New Jersey-based hospitals,” and there is pressure among New Jersey lawmakers to enforce such a thing.

CHOP’s Philadelphia hospital is the single largest provider of inpatient care to sick children in New Jersey. Their total economic impact across New Jersey was $593 million last year, supporting 3,434 New Jersey jobs. Their Kids First primary care practices see 122,000 children a year. Where will these children get medical care? They will be forced to seek it from the already overcrowded New Jersey practices and hospitals. Yet, these facilities are also beginning to drop certain insurance plans.

Horizon is currently seeking state approval to allow it to convert to a for-profit company. I urge you to oppose this. How can we feel safe that our insurance company is making decisions that are best for its patients when it must also answer to shareholders?

I am a New Jersey teacher and I receive benefits from my employer. I am not in a position to change my health care provider. Being an educator does not pay particularly well, but the health care, pension and job stability have always surpassed the lack of monetary compensation. I feel proud to be contributing the education system in New Jersey. I am looking out for the future of our children’s education. I am asking you to please look out for their health.

Please contact:
Mr. William J. Marino
Horizon BCBS of NJ
Three Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ 07012
973-466-4000

Ms. Meg Jones
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, CHOP
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-590-6900

There are thousands of children’s lives hanging in the balance. Please help us continue to receive the superior care New Jersey families deserve.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
YOUR NAME HERE
YOUR ADDRESS HERE
YOUR PHONE NUMBER HERE
_____________________________________________________________
Or you can email the congressman. Here is a condensed version of the above letter:

Dear Congressman _________,
I am writing to implore you to get involved with the contract negotiations between Children’s Hospital of Pennsylvania and Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield. As I am sure you are aware, Horizon announced that as of March 2009 they will no longer pay CHOP claims.

Horizon justifies CHOP’s recent dismissal by saying it “wants to get New Jersey residents to use New Jersey-based hospitals,” and there is pressure among New Jersey lawmakers to enforce such a thing.

CHOP’s Philadelphia hospital is the single largest provider of inpatient care to sick children in New Jersey. Their total economic impact across New Jersey was $593 million last year, supporting 3,434 New Jersey jobs. Their Kids First primary care practices see 122,000 children a year. Where will these children get medical care? They will be forced to seek it from the already overcrowded New Jersey practices and hospitals.

Horizon is currently seeking state approval to allow it to convert to a for-profit company. I urge you to oppose this. How can we feel safe that our insurance company is making decisions that are best for its patients when it must also answer to shareholders?

Please contact:
Mr. William J. Marino Horizon BCBS of NJ
Three Penn Plaza East
Newark, NJ 07012
973-466-4000

Ms. Meg Jones
Executive VP and Chief Administrative Officer, CHOP
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-590-6900

There are thousands of children’s lives hanging in the balance. Please help us continue to receive the superior care New Jersey families deserve.

Thank you for your time and consideration,
YOUR NAME HERE

Brand Loyalty

Joe says I haven't been keeping up with my rival blogger: the Gallaghers!

We've had some funny goings-on in our house. Charlie continues to tell me I smell like poop just because it got a laugh out of me before, so that's always fun. We trick-or-treated about 5 times including Halloween. We certainly got our $20 worth from Old Navy! Charlie was a pirate and Finny was a "wild monkey" as Charlie said. As per Charlie, Joe was a pirate and I was a princess (which meant I wore my wedding tiara on my head. There was no way I was wearing a princess dress... I would've been like Underdog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suzanne_Muldowney) prancing around our neighborhood! Luckily donning the tiara got me off the hook.) Charlie got to wear his costume to Pre-k the other day for their Halloween party and they paraded around the block. I didn't have my camera for any of these events b/c it's at Best Buy getting fixed. Yay. Perfect timing!

Charlie said the funniest thing today. As perhaps you've noticed, Commerce changed over to TD Bank. It literally happened overnight. One day the lobby was red and said Commerce and the next it was painted green with a big green sign outside. We were driving by and Joe and I commented that they changed over and Joe said "I wonder if they're still our bank." To which Charlie said "I wonder if they're still gonna give out lollipops." Ah, the concerns of a 3 1/2 year old! I hope he remains obliviously innocent for a long, long time because the adult world is no fun!!

Which also reminds me... don't forget to vote on Tuesday! Let's get some liberal thinking back in the White House (my Dad officially wants to disown me and move to Australia.)

I love that picture of the boys. It was taken with MoMo's rockin' new camera on Sunset Beach in Cape May after the Halloween parade. Finny's face is so genuine. It's priceless!