Guaranteed Healthcare

When Saving A Life Isn’t Profitable

“Things started to go badly for my dad about four years ago,” explains Donna Teer of Marietta, Ohio. “He discovered he had Malt lymphoma and then got a really bad case of pneumonia. After his pneumonia, he started loosing blood faster and the procedures to stop the bleeding weren't working.”  Donna’s father, Roy Dickinson, went into an ammonia attack, caused by his failing liver.

“He received a procedure called TIPS to reduce the pressure in the liver, which didn't work. But dad never gave up fighting, because the doctors gave him hope. They were going to try and get a transplant approved and took his case to the insurance company.” 

“The insurance company knew why he went to the hospital, but now said that the hospital's transplant department wasn't on the approved list and he would have to go to another hospital. Dad didn't have the time he needed to go to the second hospital and redo testing.”

Roy died less than a week after the insurance company denied him the transplant that could have saved his life.

“I think he didn't have the strength to fight anymore,” Teer reflected. “More importantly, we felt the insurance company knew he wouldn't make it either. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, and a friend—not just a number—and the insurance company took that away from us. Dad, we love you and miss you terribly!”

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Sponsored by the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee

Eighty-two percent of Americans think the U.S. healthcare system should be fundamentally changed or completely rebuilt (Commonwealth Fund, Aug. 7, 2008). America's nurses know that only single-payer, improved and expanded Medicare for all will fix our broken system and the tragedy of our devastated families. HR 676, by U.S. Rep John Conyers, is the most comprehensive, cost effective way to achieve guaranteed healthcare for all.  Read prior stories in this series at www.GuranteedHealthcare.org.