Guaranteed Healthcare

Four-Year-Old Boy at the End of His Insurance Rope

"My son Thomas, now 4 years old, was born with severe hemophilia, and a year later developed a resistance to treatment. Basically, Thomas needs treatments that can blow through a $1 million policy in as little as a few days or as long as a year. My employer provided health insurance, but because of the claims history, the insurance company has raised the rates and implemented a $1 million cap," reports Nathan Wilkes of Littleton, Colo.

When Nathan knew his son would soon reach that cap in benefits, he and his wife researched every possible way to handle the situation, including filing for divorce so that their children might qualify for Medicaid. Eventually they found coverage for Thomas through the state of Colorado's high-risk health insurance pool, CoverColorado, but even getting to that point was not easy for the family.

Cancer Kills Sister Because of Lack of Health Insurance

"For months, despite her weight loss, vomiting, and constant pain, not one medical professional suggested further testing - because Frances did not have health insurance," Anne Gentry of Ripley, W.Va., recalls about her sister’s fight for her life. "My brother worked a $10 per hour job out of state, coming home on weekends. No testing was done until about seven months into the ordeal, when someone suggested checking her gall bladder."

"It wasn't until she collapsed one weekend and was taken to the hospital that any significant testing was done. Of course, by then the cancer had spread throughout her entire abdomen. It was not until after this that anyone found a source of funds besides the sliding fee scale at the local clinic."

Treatment Delayed for Months, But Insurance Cancelled When Just One Day Late with Payment

"I have been an RN since 1978. Last year I was hospitalized with a white blood cell count of 1.6. My WBCs improved, but I remained very sick—pain, fatigue, short of breath, and suffer subluxation of both hips and one shoulder. I did not have Family Medical Leave Act protection because I had only been at my job for eight months. I was 'asked' to resign," said Lisa Kelleher of Kernersville, N.C.  "I collected private disability for six weeks, and then because of a history of Ehlers-Danblos syndrome in my family, I was told that no further payments would be issued until I was seen by a geneticist.

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."

Another Veteran Abandoned After Injury

"I served my country in the U.S. Navy and have never believed in a free ride, but I'm getting sick and tired of the way our insurance companies treat us," begins Roland Rogers of Frederic, Wis. "I'm a blue-collar worker who does a job that a lot of people wouldn't think of doing. It's hard physical work."

"Recently, I sustained an injury at work. It's a stress fracture in my foot, which I believe was caused by over 20 years of walking on the cement floors of this company. But the insurance company won’t help me, claiming I don't have the proof that this happened at work." 

Julie Pierce

Young Husband, Father Dies After Denial of Cancer Treatments

"Tracy Dion Pierce, 37, of Mission, Kan., died on January 18, 2006, at home after a courageous battle with renal cell carcinoma (kidney cancer)," writes Tracy's widow, Julie Pierce. "Tracy was a journeyman carpenter with Local #61 Carpenter's District Council in Kansas City. He was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, but his cancer eventually spread to his liver, lungs, lymph nodes, adrenal gland, renal cavity, and his brain."

The story of Tracy's illness and death was featured in Michael Moore's documentary film, SiCKO, but for Julie and her son, Tracy, Jr., the horror of losing Tracy, Sr., and the insurance denials go on. 

Cancer Patient’s Treatment Determined by HMO, Not Doctors

“I am a 49 year old female and am currently being treated for colon cancer, stage 4. I was initially diagnosed last year, February 2007, and have been undergoing chemotherapy ever since,” said Andrea Bates of Indianapolis, Ind.  My initial prognosis was not good, but now is looking very good and I am thankful for that.  I currently have insurance through my husband's employer and have been receiving great care, which again, I'm grateful for.

RN Suffering from Incurable Disease Fails to Keep Up With Medical Expenses Even Though She's Insured

Pays $14,000 a year out of pocket

"After being an emergency room nurse for 17 years, I became too ill to work," said Jan Stephens, an RN from Anaheim, Calif.  "It all started out manageable enough.  In 1992, I enrolled in a Blue Cross policy with a monthly premium of $282, a $500 annual deductible, and a $250 prescription drug deductible.

"Then in 1995, I was diagnosed with an incurable bladder disease called interstitial cystitis and several other coexisting illnesses. I was disabled due to the excruciating pain and, like so many other people who become sick and can't work, I had to live on a fixed income. Problem was, my insurance costs kept going up. Now, my monthly insurance premiums are $639, with an annual deductible of $1,500, and I pay up to $500 per month out of pocket for prescription drugs.

Young, Insured Cancer Patient's Parents Risk Bankruptcy for Treatment

"I was 20 and knew I needed to pay a visit to my gynecologist because it is something very important for women to do, of course. I did go and I was given a routine pap smear," said Crystal Wagner of Grayson, Ga. "I received a follow-up call that pertained to this visit telling me I had level 1B2 of cervical cancer and needed surgery as soon as possible. I had the cancer cells for quite some time and had no idea as cervical cancer has no real symptoms."   

RN Cares For Physician Husband But Cannot Believe Costs

“My husband is a physician – who, by the way, has never missed a day of work – and is also on dialysis for a failed kidney transplant.  I'm a nurse, and have been doing his home hemodialysis for the past year,” said Daniella Pigott of Birmingham, Alabama.  “Each month our insurance company sends us a copy of the billing statement.  Remember, I am the one who does his treatments at home for three hours a day, five days a week. I also draw all of his labs, spin them in a centrifuge, and then take them to the lab. I also give my husband his medications IV.”