HMO Must Pay $28M For Delaying MRI That Could Have Saved Cancer Patient’s Leg

[catrose]

3. Similar for me but not so sad

My new doctor, when I told him of back and leg problems, ordered an MRI to find out what was wrong before deciding on a course of action. I tried to make sure that Cigna would cover it but just got bounced around the company with no answer. So I called the imaging place to cancel because I couldn't confirm coverage, and they said it was their job to deal with Cigna and they would accept whatever payment they could negotiate from Cigna; I wouldn't owe anything. So I went ahead.

And Cigna decided that an MRI for years of pain and loss of function was medically unnecessary, that I should have gone to physical therapy or something first. So they paid nothing, as far as I know. Their reasoning makes no medical sense to me nor does Kaiser's. From an accounting standpoint, I suppose it does. Meanwhile, people are suffering and dying.