There are some things I don't write about because I can't but I'm making an exception tonight. Like many of you - I refuse to shop at Walmart for the same reasons most progressives do. Never shopped in one and never will. The following video has set that resolve in granite and I'm determined to do all I can to tell this poor family's story in the hopes that someone more influential than I will step in and help them. Take a look at what Crooks & Liars reported a few days ago...
Last November, the WSJ reported in a front-page story how the retail giant had sued Deborah Shank--a 52-year-old former Wal-Mart employee left permanently brain damaged from a car accident nearly eight years ago--for the money and won. Like most employee health plans, Wal-Mart's gives it the right to recover medical expenses for accident-related care if a worker also collects damages in an injury suit.
That was on CNN a few days ago and this evening I saw the story repeated on NBC. It's one of the saddest - no make that the most infuriating stories ever. In this video the analysts tell us that companies like Walmart rarely pursue the subrogation clause built into most health insurance policies, but for some reason Walmart decided to go after this brain-damaged woman and her husband.
She was hit by a truck while working for Walmart - had insurance which laid out hundreds of thousands for her medical care. She had head injuries and was left with permanent brain damage, in a wheelchair, and unable to care for herself. Her husband sued the trucking company and was awarded a fairly large settlement which he put in a trust fund for his wife's care. Just shy of 300k left after the lawyers took their cut.
Walmart and their insurance company took the couple to court. They demanded they be reimbursed for the money they spent on her medical care (some 400k). Court sided with the insurance company, clearing the way for Walmart to sack the trust fund which doesn't even have enough to care for that poor woman for the rest of her life as it is.
The husband works 2 jobs to make ends meet. He's battled cancer during this ordeal and they lost their son in Iraq.
His only option was to divorce his beloved wife so she's left with nothing and then she'll qualify for public assistance.
That story left me in tears - shouting at the television - and I said to hubby "see? THIS is why I'm fighting so hard for Hillary. Our health care system has GOT to be overhauled and those blood-sucking health insurance companies brought into line. If anyone can get this job done it's Hillary and we NEED her in the oval office NOW."
I wasn't sure if I should follow up the story about that poor young woman in Ohio, which I posted the other night with yet another outrage re health care (or the lack thereof) but something should do something about this. That couple has nothing - they've been through so much already and now Walmart's selectively decided to enforce the subrogation clause because they want to take what little they have left to bolster their 90 million dollar bottom line.
That CNN report said the couple's last chance is the Supreme Court. They've filed a petition for cert. and on March 24th the Court denied cert. So that's it. Walmart's contacted the Shank's attorney to start the process of sacking their trust fund.
So the question now is how will this family pay for her care?
It's a safe bet Walmart doesn't give a flying fig about that. They just want the money.
My father lost his insurance over a 2 cent shortfall, and died at the age of 61 when his failing heart gave out. It's too late for him but maybe - MAYBE someone can help this poor woman and her family retain what little dignity she has left.
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