Edward Hum – 9/8/09

This page was last updated on October 1, 2009.

Insurance firms, you and your doctor; Edward J. Hum; Beaver County Times; September 8, 2009.

Mr. Hum was a regular contributor (at least 28 letters) from mid-2004 through September 2007. After about 10 months, Mr. Hum came out of “retirement” to bash President Bush’s Air National Guard service with two letters in less than two weeks. Mr. Hum concluded 2008 with a total of six letters, only about two-thirds of his previous yearly average. It will be no surprise most of Mr. Hum’s letters have been no more than exercises in bashing President Bush and/or other Republicans. I wonder what Mr. Hum will do now that Barack Obama has become President. Mr. Hum’s letters are also flame-throwing exercises. I don’t know if Mr. Hum actually believes what he writes, or if he simply likes to stir things up to call attention to himself.

Mr. Hum is one of a group of local Republican impersonators (The group also includes Messrs. William A. Alexander, Arthur Brown, William G. Horter, and George Reese.) who write claiming to be disgruntled Republicans. You have to give Mr. Hum “credit,” however, for going the extra mile to further his impersonation. As of September 2006, Mr. Hum was actually registered as a Republican despite the fact he’s no more a Republican than is Dennis Kucinich.

Below is a detailed critique of the subject letter.

“I’ve studied Medicaid programs for children in families with no health insurance.

“I looked at New Zealand, Australia, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, England, Denmark, Norway and Sweden.

“None have a children’s program. We are No. 1.

“Of course, their excuse is that they have universal health care at half of what our system costs. What kind of excuse is that?

“By the way, ever heard of a baby born in a taxicab or a car on the side of the road? It happens here now. How many babies were born in cars last year in Germany? None. German women get 14 days in the hospital for child birth [sic].”

[RWC] If we are to believe Mr. Hum’s facts, we must believe that in a country of over 80 million people and nearly 800,000 births in 2008, every birth happened at exactly the time predicted and/or not one expectant mother got caught out of range of a hospital when she went into labor. Unlike Mr. Hum, I’m no expert on this topic, but common sense tells me to be skeptical.

“If they are there a day or two early, there is no insurance company to refuse to pay for it.”

[RWC] Oh no? According to an NPR story, “Like most Americans, most Germans are covered through group health insurance sponsored by their employers.”

What about Switzerland? Again according to NPR, “individuals — not employers or the government — choose from a broad array of health plans, sold by private insurance companies.”

These are two more indications Mr. Hum’s alleged research is questionable at best.

“Don’t let insurance bureaucrats come between you and your doctor.”