Guaranteed Healthcare

Cheryl Scott

HMOs Decide 57-Year-Old Husband's Life Not Worth Saving

"My late husband was diagnosed in July of 2005 with a brain tumor," recounts Cheryl Scott, RNn of Sacramento, Calif. "He had double coverage from two major healthcare systems–one through his retirement from his past job, and another through my insurance."

"When he was diagnosed in our first year of marriage with glioblastoma at the age of 57, both HMOs denied him options for radiation and chemotherapy. Both systems told my late husband, Bob, that if he were 40 years old they would provide these accepted treatment options for glioblastomas, but they denied him these options because he was almost 60 years old. They would only provide palliative care. He had been in perfect health all of his life. This was his first problem other than a sprained ankle. He died six months later."

"My late husband's example emphasizes that unreasonable rationing is being done by HMOs now. If my insurer could ration and deny care when I have been a nurse for 28 years and I was more than able than most family members to advocate for my husband, I know this can and does happen to too many people."

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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.

For more information, or to contact this patient: Liz Jacobs, RN 510/273-2232.