Earlier today, over 600 people gathered in Washington, DC to show their support for seven people from around the country who have been harmed by the insurance industry at the annual State Issues Conference of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), the lobbying arm of the insurance industry. These people have bravely told their stories about denial of care and mistreatment from the insurance companies. Yesterday, the seven families sent an open letter to AHIP President Karen Ignagni, demanding a meeting with her so they could explain the harm the insurance companies have done to them and their families.

The seven brave representatives include:

• Kelly Arellanes, an AT&T worker from Arkansas, who was in a coma for three weeks after a 2004 horseback riding accident. Kelly and her husband had to pay more than $200,000 in medical bills when Kelly’s emergency surgery was not covered by UnitedHealthcare.
• Sharon Lantz, a realtor from Delaware, whose UnitedHealthcare plan forces her to pay for her cancer care “out of pocket,” requiring her to get chemotherapy medication from India (in order to afford it). Sharon cannot afford breast reconstruction.
• Courtney Jenkins-Atnip, a mother of a toddler from Tennessee, who was denied medication for Crohn’s disease by UnitedHealthcare, which had approved the same medication 12 months earlier. By the time coverage was reinstated, Courtney’s condition had deteriorated, and she was forced to undergo serious surgery and miss work for 2 months.
• Kevin Scott has a brain tumor and his MRIs, lab work, and treatment for side effects (like skin problems) are not covered through his BCBS Anthem plan, which he retains through COBRA. When Kevin got sick, he left a good job in Virginia and moved in with his retired parents in California who are trying to help pay bills that are now in the thousands and going up.
• Stephanie Beck Borden of Ohio whose parents were in an accident that left her mother dead and her father in intensive care for 5 weeks. Stephanie had to battle insurance companies constantly to get her father vital treatments for his injuries so that he could walk again.
• Georgeanne Koehler of Pennsylvania whose brother died of a heart attack in March after CIGNA and others refused to insure him because he had heart arrhythmia (an irregular heart beat).
• Ian Pearl of Florida, who was born with muscular dystrophy, suffered respiratory arrest in 1991. He went on a ventilator and saw his premiums rise to $3,736/month. In 2006, Guardian began an effort to get rid of unprofitable plans, calling the claimants “dogs” and dropping all policies like Ian’s. Ian will lose coverage for the 24-hour care that keeps him alive on Dec. 1, 2009, and his family faces $700,000/yr. in out-of-pocket costs. Ian could not travel, so his mother Susan Pearl came to DC on his behalf.

While hundreds of protesters gathered outside the conference site with signs and personalized stickers in honor of those who have been harmed by the insurance industry, the press conference inside provided a venue for the seven people harmed by the industry to tell their stories and urge Ms. Ignagni to meet with them and discuss how their claims have been tossed aside; however she could not be bothered. This should not surprise anyone: the health industry is denying necessary care for these people and millions of other Americans for the same reason AHIP is lobbying against the public health insurance option: they are driven by profits rather than the health of the customers. Contrary to their assertions, AHIP cares nothing about “working together to improve health care;” their only motive is filling their deep pockets and it’s a wonder how these people can sleep at night. As Ross wrote yesterday, the health insurance industry is on the wrong side of health care reform and are doing all they can to stop meaningful health care reform.

It was amazing to see democracy at work with hundreds of activists united by a powerful message and showing their support for victims of the insurance industry.

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