Don't Read This if You Can't Read...

[Joe Guy]

I just received a flyer enclosed with my Blue Shield Explanation of Benefits. The first sentence on it says, "Can you read this letter? If not, we can have somebody help you read it." It goes on to say, "You may also be able to get the letter written in your language."

Can someone explain to me who might benefit from that information?

[Long Run]

It does seem to be an oxymoron. But I think the idea is that the member will have someone who can read the statement, read the optional information and let the member know that they can get future EOBs in their native language. That begs the question of whether the member is capable of understanding bureaucratese and glyphs that make up the typical EOB.

[Joe Guy]

If you're correct, the author of that extremely helpful information assumes that the person has someone there that can read and that the recipient would be able to read it if it were in another language.

What if the guy lives alone, has no friends and is illiterate?..

[rubato]

If you're correct, the author of that extremely helpful information assumes that the person has someone there that can read and that the recipient would be able to read it if it were in another language.

What if the guy lives alone, has no friends and is illiterate?..

My wife has a lot of patients who speak a different language and use a family member to translate. Since she is an OB/Gyn and the family member is often a male child or sometimes a spouse, there are awkward moments. People have to try to make it all work.


yrs,
rubato

[Rick]

I can't read so I didn't read this what does it say?

[Joe Guy]

I can't read so I didn't read this what does it say?

它說，你傻

[Rick]

Oh another bumper sticker:

If you can read this you are too close

Yuk Yuk Yuk

[Lord Jim]

I'm going to take a guess here, (and I mean that sincerely, not employing "I'm going to take a guess here" sarcasm; just in case anyone was unsure of my intent...okay, I meant that last bit sarcastically... )

And guess that the reason that the first line of that letter is written as it is, under the assumption that while one may have sufficient command of the English language to be able to understand:

"Can you read this letter? If not, we can have somebody help you read it."

They may not have sufficient comprehension of the English language to comprehend all the the bureaucratize and legalize which follows...

I would further speculate that those opening sentences may have been included on the advice of legal counsel, ("We don't want anyone saying we didn't tell them they might not be able to read this; that would leave us legally vulnerable")

[MajGenl.Meade]

If you can read this....

LJ. Here's your sign!

[rubato]

The question of "how do you communicate with a population who do not all read and speak the same language" is real, and pressing .

You have to be willfully stupid not to get it.


yrs,
rubato

[Lord Jim]

You have to be willfully stupid not to get it.

Any point to that particular insult, or did you just toss that one out there for shits and giggles?

[Joe Guy]

He can't help it. rubato suffers from PTS (Penned Tourette Syndrome). After he writes a post like that, he hits himself in the face a couple of times and then he does a dance.

It's quite fascinating...

[Lord Jim]

Well, one thing rube need never fear is being called "willfully stupid"...

There ain't nothing willful about his stupidity; it's an innate condition, no conscious effort required...

A "defining characteristic" one might say...

[eddieq]

I used to have a pen that said, "Phone problems? Please call..." and gave a phone number.

[Lord Jim]

That reminds me of when I call Comcast because I'm having a problem with their internet service, and one of their endless recorded messages you have to listen through to get to a human being helpfully tells me that I might find the solution to my problem online at their website...