THEIR RULES, OUR PAIN
Real stories of people trampled by the insurance companies
"I had a date set for back surgery but my insurance company denied authorization claiming it was experimental. They said that even though both Medicare and Medicaid pay for this procedure. So now I sit here with growing back problems and will in all probability end up in a wheelchair due to nerve damage.
"Also, my insurance company denied payment for a sinus surgery I had. It claimed the surgery was needed due to a pre-existing condition and thus not covered. I am now being sued by the hospital for the bill that I do not have the money to pay."
Insurance companies often use claims of pre-existing conditions to deny payment for needed care.
Learn more about the insurance industry's Foul Play.
Read other stories in the "Their Rules, Our Pain" archive.
LATEST SCORECARD
Fifty-eight percent of primary care doctors in the U.S. report their patients often have difficulty paying for medications and care, and half of U.S. doctors spend substantial time dealing with restrictions insurance companies place on their patients’ care, according to the 2009 Commonwealth Fund International Health Policy Survey.
LEARN MORE
Families saw their premiums for job-based health insurance rise to an average of $13,375 annually in 2009, with workers paying an average share of $3,515 and employers paying $9,860.
LEARN MORE
