There ought to be a law
Rob and Beasley in November at Emerald Isle, NC. The insurance company caused a delay in Rob's testing for coronary artery disease that very nearly cost Rob his life.
It ought to be illegal for an insurance company to stall a vital medical test for 36 hours. Rob came incredibly close to dying because Blue Cross/ Blue Shield insisted on pre-approving a heart stress test for 36 hours.
Rob’s doctor had done an EKG that showed irregularities. That meant there was something wrong with his heart, and cardiac problems can kill with little or no warning.
The same with vascular problems.
No mid-level drone with an MBA has any right to stall the process of diagnosis in such dire circumstances.
I’m sure it’s worked into their statistical models that some people will be scared enough to have the test done anyway and they can deny payment, thus saving money.
Another small percentage of people will die in the interim and the insurance companies won’t have to pay for the test or any treatment.
There ought to be a law, and I’m going to work for one, starting with the state. I’m going to call state legislators from Western North Carolina in the morning and ask that such a bill be introduced.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield will fight it, but I don’t plan to give up. Help me spread the word that we need this law.
Patient Pals & Family Friends
Life o' Mike has a new peer support program for people newly diagnosed with chronic or serious illness or with a new disability and their caregivers.
Patient Pals are people who have experience with various illnesses and disabilities, who can help someone newly diagnosed or with a new disability work through the fear, frustration, confusion and grief often experienced in the first few months.
Family Friends are there to help caregivers and other family members grow into their new role.
People with new illness or disability fare better when they have a role model -- someone who can help them negotiate their new path in life.
We need volunteers, who are asked to donate a minimum of one hour a week. Training is free and includes information on active listening, ways to help and when to know more help is needed.
And of course, we need funding.
To learn more, call Leslie Boyd at 828-243-6712 or e-mail lifeomike@gmail.com.
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