djp, I fully agree with your original contention that $93,000 for drugs that will result in a four month extension of life is a waste that cannot be afforded. I do not like the term 'death panel', but realize that medical care MUST be rationed. There simply is not enough money to provide everything for everybody.

Government already rations care in the Medicare program. Certain procedures are restricted based upon the patients age and medical conditions - eg no heart transplants after 70. The VA is even more restrictive, but does deliver quality care.

While I constantly read about private insurance companies refusing to continue to insure people after they get sick, I have never found an example of it that I could verify. It would seem that if this were widespread, the trial lawyers would be advertising for cases every day just as they do for asbestos, hip replacements, breast implants, etc. The absence of such TV spots would seem to indicate that this rarely occurs.