How To Learn More About Your Health Care Rights
Randy Paige Reporting
CBS 2 / KCAL 9
(CBS) LOS ANGELES A cancer patient in the fight of his life suddenly has to fight his HMO at the same time. They cancelled his membership just when he needed it most. So we got involved to help him and what happened next could be a lesson for everyone.
Scott Bracy is the father of a three-month-old baby girl, and he?s fighting for his life. Just two weeks ago, he thought he had lost the battle.
“I got a letter saying my insurance has been cancelled and don?t show up, don?t show up for your chemotherapy,” Bracy said.
In August Scott was diagnosed with malignant melanoma. Doctors at Kaiser Permanente medical center in Riverside told him with aggressive chemotherapy treatment he would have a twelve percent chance of survival.
Then, just a few days before his fourth scheduled treatment, Scott received this letter from Kaiser, which says, ?your membership in Kaiser foundation health plan has been revoked due to the intentional misrepresentation of your health history.” An allegation that Scott vehemently denies.
“I was completely deflated, I cried and I cried; that was the most horrible thing I think I’ve ever heard, was you’re not to show up, don?t even show up,” Bracy said.
The question as to whether or not Kaiser has acted properly in this case is a legal question which will take months to answer…
Wow – I totally missed this story! It’s on my must-blog list.
The same thing sort of happened with me. Kaiser botched a cosmetic procedure right before I lost my job. Then my Kaiser membership was gone, so I couldn’t get it fixed. The scars on my face are permanent.
I also had to quit several medications cold turkey, which was seriously dangerous.
The DMHC, a state agency in California that’s supposed to address these issues, blew me off.