The power of prayer
Via Andrew Stuttaford at the Corner (via The Secular Right), the LATimes reports that the Healthcare Overhaul Bill contains a requirement that insurance companies “consider” covering Christian Science prayer treatments. Orrin Hatch is the genius behind it but John Kerry and the late Teddy Kennedy also supported it.
This is so ludicrously stupid that it clearly doesn’t require much to be said about it. Of course, if gay men will be required to pay for insurance that includes pregnancy coverage (which I believe is on the cards), I guess atheists might need the prayer treatments.
I was stuck in the Toronto airport some months ago and somehow ended up talking to a Canadian in the process of moving to Wisconsin who “Doesn’t believe in the lie of western medicine, no judgement*” and asked me if Blue Cross Blue Shield would cover his whateverpathologist and his mooncyclenutritionist**. I took that to mean that Canada actually does cover alternative medicines under their national health system and makes one wonder where the line is, if Blue Cross Blue Shield pays for such things and what is the insurance company/state’s obligation in this regard.
*He said ‘no judgement’ to me a lot. Couldn’t tell if it was a verbal tic or if I was particularlly offensive.
** I had no idea what the names of his doctors were, but he did specifically talk about eating food in accordance to what phase of the moon crops were harvested under.
Comment by Liz — 11/8/2009 @ 11:32 am
That’s Canuckistanians for you. I wouldn’t be surprised to discover that they’re creating panels to decide on when to execute old people.
Comment by Adam — 11/9/2009 @ 4:01 pm
Or providing federally funded abortions on demand to all who desire them.
Comment by Rojas — 11/9/2009 @ 6:59 pm