If bleeding out is the end goal, the insurance company wins

In Klines lecture, he talks about Kant's interpretation of utilitarianism, and the "right" what we ought to do is determined by performing a cost benefit analysis. Insurance companies take this deeply to heart. But unfortunately they are dealing with real human lives. Insurance companies are looking for the greatest good, yes, that is their goal, but at what cost? Is the greatest good for their financial sake or for the sake of the members health? We learned in the lecture that there are two moral rules for Kant. In the second rule, never treat someone solely as a means, but also as an end in themselves. To treat someone solely is a means is just to use them. People pay premiums to the insurance companies that is a means. In return the insurance company provides the member with an opportunity to get medical treatment when needed and not to pay the full amount that is billed. This sounds great on paper. The insurance companies make it sound and look like they are always out for your best interest. We see the commercials showing healthy, vibrant people going to the doctor, getting all the tests they need, getting preventative services, older people being able to travel and live their best lives, and all because their health insurance is making that possible. "Evil people can come across as very nice people."

We should treat people as ends by respecting their rights. People have a right to healthcare in America. They have a right to the services that their insurance company commits to. Too often insurance companies are refusing care through channels due to cost of the service. There are many ways they do this, prior authorization for medication or treatment, delaying treatment because they require some other test done before the most expensive tests, (x-ray before MRI.) In a ProPublica article, they review a case of a college student who Unitedhealth Group refused care due to the cost. He was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, was prescribed a cocktail of medications that were costing the insurance carrier approximately $2 million per year. The insurance carrier denied the payment of these medication's citing it was not necessary. The family did sue and it was found that UnitedHealth group had lied, buried reports from doctors, deeming it medically necessary. This is unethical and immortal.

https://www.propublica.org/article/unitedhealth-healthcare-insurance-denial-ulcerative-colitis