Guaranteed Healthcare

Young, Insured Father Stuck with $25,000 in Out-of-Network Costs

"When our son, Aidan, was born on March 9, 2005, at Boca Raton Community Hospital in Boca Raton,  Fla., I was an employee of Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Fla., and carried health insurance through them," said Jack Mahoney of Boca Raton.

"Because Boca Community is closer to our home in Boca Raton, my wife went there to give birth to our son. I had called the Memorial Regional insurance company a few months prior and told them that my wife would be using Boca Community, because it was closer to our home, and they did not say we would not be covered.  By the way, Memorial is self-insured, so the state of Florida has no jurisdiction over them."

Leslie Elder with Rep. John Conyers (HR676)

Breast Cancer Patient Can No Longer Afford To Save Her Own Life

"We had major medical health insurance when I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1987," recalls Leslie Elder of West Palm Beach, Fla. "After a radical mastectomy, I was again diagnosed with breast cancer and had another radical mastectomy in 1992. Left with huge unpaid balances and tripling premiums, we were forced to drop the insurance in 2003."

"In 2005 I was diagnosed with kidney cancer, resulting in the removal of one and part of the other kidney. With the help of a family member, I paid almost $70,000 for the two surgeries." 

United Healthcare Denies Young Mother Choice for Labor and Delivery

"During my pregnancy, I had to endure a five-month-long battle with United Healthcare relating to maternity coverage. It was my desire to give birth either at home or at a birthing center. I didn't wish to give birth in a hospital setting unless there were complications. Unfortunately, my healthcare plan didn’t support my decision and denied two appeals to provide coverage for my choice, which by the way, is supported by Florida law,” writes Susan Christiansen of Altamonte Springs, Fla.

"There are countless studies proving that home/birth center births are safe (many times with more favorable outcomes than hospital births) and result in fewer complications, interventions, and, most importantly, C-sections.