A few days ago Keith Olbermann did a quick comment about a little boy named Kyler Van Nocker
who is suffering from neuroblastoma and has been forced to sue his insurance company,
HealthAmerica for refusing to pay for treatment.
Ever since I saw the face of this little blue-eyed treasure,
I haven't been able to get him out of my mind.
perhaps you will have the same reaction....
Please, watch this powerful comment by Mr. Olbermann,
who once again brings a real face to the problem.
The face of a beautiful child named Kyler.
I know there are many, many people in little Kyler's situation,
and I'm singling this out because I'm outraged, and I can't get over how beautiful his blue eyes are.
Mostly, because it's important that we keep these stories out in front...of everyone and anyone.
Especially the lawmakers in DC.
Kyler’s story shows how even 5-year-old children are subject to insurance company abuse.
Kyler has neuroblastoma, a very rare form of childhood cancer that targets the nervous system
and creates tumors throughout the body.
After a successful treatment in 2007, Kyler's cancer went into remission,
giving him 12 months of pain-free life.
Unfortunately, in September 2008, the cancer returned, and Kyler was once again in need of treatment. There was, one form of treatment that doctors believed could save his life: MIBG therapy.
Where a radioactive drug, delivered intravenously, travels to tumor sites,
slamming them with radiation.
But because it's considered "investigational/experimental" and has yet to be approved by the FDA,
his insurance company, HealthAmerica, refused to pay.
The family appealed as many times as they could,
but HealthAmerica's final decision is denial.
The odd thing is, in April 2008, HealthAmerica approved a cheaper treatment for Van Nocker, also considered "experimental". But this time? No go.
These new treatments are expensive, approximately $50k per shot.
But we're talking about a child's life.
Still, HealthAmerica stands firm in their denial.
Refusing to pay for treatment that could save a child's life
This is what it has come to.
Sad, shameful and mad as hell!
Think Progress reported on this a few days ago:
The sad truth is that Kyler is certainly not alone in having his claim denied by a major health insurer. The California Nurses Association (CNA), a nurses’ union and health care advocacy group, recently released a comprehensive study of claims denials across California. The study found that the six largest insurers in California rejected 47.7 million claims in the first half of 2009, nearly 22 percent of all claims submitted.
Van Nocker’s parents are suing HealthAmerica, citing the fact that the company has apparently been dishonest about its criteria for the types of treatment it will cover and is denying payment for treatment in this case because of the high cost of the procedure — $110,000 pays for only two rounds of MIBG treatment. "These companies have to be brought to the courthouse to get them to do the right thing," says the VanNockers’s family attorney. "This child needs this treatment, or else."
Philly.com reports on this, as well.
Paul and Maria VanNocker are filing a federal lawsuit today on behalf of their 5-year-old son, Kyler, whose insurance company, HealthAmerica, refuses to pay for the latest treatment needed to prolong his life.
The Harrisburg-based company's denial of benefits to Kyler, the lawsuit claims, is the result of "a biased, self-serving misreading and misinterpretation" of everything from Kyler's medical records to the company's own internal documents.
HealthAmerica's Kendall Marcocci told me yesterday that the company won't comment on pending litigation. Center City attorney David Senoff, though, was happy to explain why he is representing the Van Nockers for free in the lawsuit.
But Good Samaritans have rushed in with broader forms of help for Kyler, whose fifth birthday was 10 days ago. Pro-bono attorneys met this week with the VanNockers about bringing legal action against HealthAmerica.
And, when Ronnie Polaneczky, a columnist for the Philadelphia Daily News asks this:
How do HealthAmerica's overlords sleep at night?
I can only hope that if they do, they suffer nightmares.
Tonight on Countdown, Keith had Kyler's dad and attorney on:
Thankfully there are two outstanding hospitals in Philadelphia:
St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia - CHOP
which are proceeding with treatment without insurance coverage.
...even with that, the family is bankrupt.
You can help Kyler here
Fortunately for Kyler and his family, he is able to get the care he needs.
I will pray to the gods that they grant him some precious time...a lot of time.
Time to play and smile and laugh...time to not be in pain.
This is the sorry state of health care in our country.
Children denied care. Denied life.
Families bankrupt. Families struggling.
Friends and neighbors in pain and suffering.
When will the madness end?
There is so much back and forth here on what to do, on how to get meaningful reform done. How many other Kylers are there out there that aren't getting the care they need?
Please, someone...how can we fix this?
I wish I knew. Because stories like Kyler's make me want to scream out.
HealthAmerica?
yeah right.