National Nurses United

Patients:5 2/8/08 3:06 PM Page 15 Zack Swartzi Surprise, Arizona Tracy Piercei Mission, Kansas julie pierce's 37-year- old husband, Tracy, died in January 2006 of kidney cancer after nearly two years of trying in vain to get his health insurance to cover treatments his oncologist ordered. Even though Julie Pierce worked at St. Joseph Medical Center, one of the main hospitals in Kansas City, Tracy was not approved for multiple therapies. Instead of receiving round after round of chemotherapy, Tracy Pierce only received page after page of denial letters. The Pierces appealed the denials, but only got more denials. Their doctor said the only option left was a bone marrow transplant. Even though one of Tracy's half brothers tested as a perfect match, the insurance company wouldn't approve the transplant. Julie Pierce eventually learned that the hospital was self insured so the board of directors had the final say on authorizations. She pleaded with the board to treat Tracy, but they rejected her appeal. By January 2006, the cancer had spread throughout his body and to Tracy's brain. The insurance did pay for palliative care. He died on Jan. 12. "They killed my husband," said Julie Pierce. "I promised him that I would not let this go." JANUARY | FEBRUARY 2008 last september, Jennifer Swartz's 14-year-old son Zack suffered severe damage to two fingers when a basketball hoop fell on his left hand. Though she was insured, Swartz's troubles were just beginning. At the Phoenix hospital where Zack was sent, her HMO did not have a pediatric hand surgeon and had to use an out-of-network surgeon. Zack needed a pin in his broken index finger. Then he was exposed to the Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccocus Aureus superbug which destroyed a large portion of his joint and bone, requiring more hospital visits and three more surgeries. "We were now told that the insurance company was no longer approving any visits to this out-of-network surgeon who has seen us through all this," said Swartz. There were few in-network pediatric hand surgeons in Arizona. "One was booked four months out, another no longer took the insurance company." The last potential doctor was hours away by car. "Meanwhile I've been fighting with the insurance company to pay these bills for the surgeries." She ended up stuck with bills for thousands of dollars while her plan administrator "suggested I set up monthly payments so my debts are not turned over to a collection company." "My insurance premium is taken right out of my check. I pay my co-pays [and] ridiculous prescription costs. Why does my family have to go through this?" HAVE YOU GOT A STORY TO SHARE? You've read their stories, now we need yours. Visit www.guaranteedhealthcare.org to tell your tale, upload a video, and sign the petition. Help us build and share real stories of real people denied medical care. W W W. C A L N U R S E S . O R G REGISTERED NURSE 15

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