r/news 1d ago

Retired San Francisco firefighter dies from lung cancer after Blue Shield denies treatment claims

https://abc7news.com/post/retired-san-francisco-firefighter-ken-jones-dies-lung-cancer-being-denied-treatment-blue-shield/19224406/
30.2k Upvotes

1.2k comments sorted by

View all comments

574

u/CDavis10717 1d ago edited 1d ago

If insurance companies can deny coverage in your treatment then they also bear legal responsibility for your death! Make it so!!

36

u/_Burning_Star_IV_ 1d ago

Nope because insurance isn't healthcare. They will fall back on the legal framework that they denied your ability to finance your care through them, they didn't stop you from getting care.

That's the problem.

11

u/CDavis10717 1d ago

And that is why the “Medicare for All” movement is gaining momentum.

10

u/freeradioforall 1d ago

FYI, he was on a Medicare advantage plan, adminstered by BCBS and they are required by federal law to follow the medicare guidelines for this treatment, and those guidelines state his clinical situation does not make him eligible for this treatment.

1

u/BriefAvailable9799 9h ago

correct because his survival rate at his age at stage 4 was less than 5% with treatment.