Denialism

Faith Healing Trips…Funded by an Insurance Company

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by

Chris
in

John W. Miller reports in the Wall Street Journal about an unusual, insurance company funded program that brings many to Lourdes:

In an unusual scheme, [VGZ] the Dutch company spends about $280,000 a year to fly 600 of its sickest and most disabled clients to Lourdes. The company doesn’t expect the Virgin Mary to intercede. It hopes for a different sort of miracle.

“Lourdes leads people to compassion and friendship,” says Johan Rozendaal, a VGZ board member. “They remember what it’s like to have somebody really care about them.”

It’s difficult to quote from this article, because it’s mainly a human interest story, and it’s quite touching. It’s about a man who was disabled in his teenage years, who dreams of regaining his vision through a trip to Lourdes, but in the end, the trip helps him face the fact that he won’t see again.

Comments

  1. Plutarch

    This is insane. Maybe this company just has money to burn, but if so they need to cut premiums for members and not pay for this kind of religious nonsense.

    Still, I doubt you’d never see an American insurance company doing something like this. They deny coverage for actual medicine; something like this would never fly in the U.S.

    Reply
  2. Paul Hutchinson

    “something like this would never fly in the U.S.”

    If only this where true, US health insurance companies are starting to jump on the woo wagon 🙁
    See: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/financial/

    My insurance provider has started falling for this junk.
    http://www.tuftshealthplan.com/visitors/visitors.php?sec=about_us&content=company_profile
    “Today, plan benefits and discounts can extend to chiropractic care, massage therapy and acupuncture.”

    Reply
  3. Evinfuilt

    This actually sounds like a wise investment for the insurance company. They weren’t sending people to Lourdes to be cured of a physical ailment. They went there more for emotional reasons, mental health.

    Then it also gains a lot in good will to the company, which is hard to buy.

    I guess they hope that many of those 600 people decide its not worth expensive/risky surgeries for their ailments, but instead learn to live with them, and live happily.

    Reply
  4. Suricou Raven

    This could happen in the US… it would be highly effective marketing. There are already a couple of Christian insurance companies there that, by claiming religious exceptions, are able to operate tax- and regulation-free – and thus undercut the competition on price, as well as convince the more gullable potential customers that using Christian insurance is somehow better. They can also refuse payment for any reason they want or no reason at all, because they dont enter legal contracts.

    Reply
  5. Chi

    Perhaps you all don’t know anyone who is truly sick. I can see how something like this might bring closure to an unsuccessful search for a cure.

    Besides, ideally an insurance company profits based on the efficiency with which they make their clients well. If this earns them money, more power to them.

    I’ll be clear: if homeopathic cures reduce hospital visits, [important:] while keeping quality of life and long term health equal, then bring on the woo.

    Reply
  6. Ex-drone

    If an insurance company is willing to pay for make-believe cures, will they also pay off a life insurance policy for a make-believe relative, or are there certain case which require evidence?

    Reply

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