Search is Powered by Google
Health Insurance / Medical Insurance News

Insurance Denies Life-Saving Surgery, Calling It "Cosmetic"

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Article Date: 22 Sep 2008 - 4:00 PDT

email icon email to a friend   printer icon printer friendly   write icon view / write opinions   rate icon rate article
Current Article Ratings:

Patient / Public:5 stars

5 (18 votes)

Health Professional:5 stars

5 (2 votes)

Article Opinions: 0 posts

"Aetna health insurance has denied me coverage to treat a disconnected jawbone and insufficient airway, which is called mandible/maxillary hypoplasia," explains Karen George of Woodbridge, Virginia. "Aetna stated they see no necessity for surgery except for cosmetic reasons despite the fact that I have medical necessity letters from six different doctors."

"A physician, who is a renowned specialist in this field, pleaded with Aetna stating that my condition is life-threatening due to a deficient airway. I am in extreme pain, take daily doses of Klonopin, Flexeril, and Lortab, but still Aetna has denied me coverage."

"The specialist stated that his proposed surgeries would drastically improve my quality of life and level of pain. Without them, I have had to undergo sedation procedures to manipulate my jaw and remove tissue growing inside the disconnected jawbone. This will continue unless I have the surgery."

"I attempted to get help from the Virginia's Bureau of Insurance, who informed me that by law my surgery has to be covered; a self-insured plan with Aetna is exempt from abiding by state and federal laws."

"This insurance denial has not only caused financial hardship on my family, but my dentist has put all my dental work on hold because I am unable to open my jaw more than 12 millimeters. I now risk the loss of all of my root canal teeth, I can't have dental cleanings, and my orthodontist can go no further in correcting my gross mal-occlusion."

Read stories like this every day through Election Day at: http://www.GuaranteedHealthcare.org

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.

Guaranteed Healthcare




Customized Homepage Weekly Newsletters Daily News Alerts
Home About Us News Licensing Free Website Feeds Free Tools & Content Links Tell a Friend Accessibility Help / FAQ Article Submission Contact Us
Psychiatry Urology
Bipolar Diabetes Schizophrenia

customize your homepage

medical news gadget

Add to Google


developers
website gadget code
website news code
medical news rss feed links


MedReader RSS Reader

customize your homepage


Saving Lives with the Help of Machines
Saving Lives with the Help of Machines

An automated external defibrillator - or A-E-D - places the technology of the emergency room into the hands of everyday people.

more videos are available in our health videos section.