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You remember Ian Pearl, right? He’s the guy who’s insurer called him a dog and then threatened to cancel his policy in the entire state to avoid giving him and people like him the benefits they paid for.
After decades of medical emergencies, we still weren’t prepared for the latest crisis — this one created by the same insurance company that once saved my life. Guardian abruptly withdrew our health plan from all policyholders in New York where my father’s business is based. Guardian offered a ‘replacement’ plan with low benefits and no home nursing benefits. They knew that I would never survive with such a plan, but they didn’t care.
Suspecting that this action was related to the high cost of my care, we filed a lawsuit and have asked the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to enforce existing federal laws and require Guardian to continue my health plan. Without federal intervention, I will lose this insurance, and that would be a death sentence.
Our lawsuit uncovered insurance company documents that confirmed my suspicion that I’m a target of discrimination. The documents revealed Guardian had compiled a “hit list” of its costliest members, including patients with muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, brain injury, and paralysis. Guardian executives referred to us all as “dogs” and “trainwrecks,” and they debated how and when to dump us from the rolls. Laws prohibited the cancellation of the individual members with serious chronic health problems, so Guardian opted to cancel the plan for all members of this specific health plan in New York, an action that violates federal law.
Ian’s mother Susan came to Washington, DC to confront lobbyists Karen Ignagni and the rest of the insurance industry last week. And after an extremely well-attended press conference and a march involving 600+ people, Ian’s insurer, Guardian, relented:
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America today notified the family of Ian Pearl that the company intends to ensure that Mr. Pearl will continue to have the same benefits that Guardian currently provides including 24/7 in-home nursing care. While details are not yet final, our commitment to continuing uninterrupted care to Ian Pearl is absolute.
Needless to say, the Pearl family is ecstatic.
It’s unfortunate, however, that a media frenzy and a huge protest were needed to get Ian the care he paid for, deserved, and needed to live. Ian’s case serves as an example of the lengths the insurance industry will go to deny care and make a profit.
The case serves as a testament to why we need health reform with a public health insurance option. Without it, there will be no way to hold the insurance industry accountable for their customers who can’t travel to DC to confront the industry and who don’t have 600+ people backing them up on the street outside. Everyone in America deserves quality, affordable health care, and everyone deserves a choice of public or private insurance.
7 Comments
Exactly. For each Ian who is saved through timely public attention, how many die quietly? Thanks for sharing the good news.
You’re welcome, hope there’s more to come.
Excellent news for Ian Pearl.
It’s almost as if we need to organize a rolling flash mob, like a wave, clear across the country, with all of those in these kinds of straits represented, in order to have any effect.
Just think of the loss in productivity! [/sarcasm] After all, it’s the only thing keeping our GDP in line.
to be tweeted
Once you’ve proven that you should have been covered by these assholes, you should be able to sue them for screwing you over. Denial of health services is pretty close to anyone’s bones, after all.
Someone should go to prison for this. This was fraud at the least, and depending on the outcomes of some other patients, it could have constituted manslaughter.
Ian,
Congratulations! This is wonderful news. Thank you for all your strength and courage.
Exactly right, though “unfortunate” might be too kind a word. The health insurance industry thinks in terms of “products” and “profits.” It’s insane.
Hi, Jason.
In the interests of full disclosure, are you paid by the word, by the post, or are you on salary? Thanks! (I’m thinking back to our conversation where you had to check back with your boss to see if you could cover single payer in your so-called “Health Care News” posts, and I realized I omitted this crucial detail.)
Also, are you registered as a lobbyist? If not, why not?