Morning everyone. I’ve just read Lisa’s post about her Dads IMRT being denied for the final time and I tried to assure her that standard rads are good as well ...but while I was writing to her I kept thinking about her father sitting around waiting for a bunch of strangers to make decisions about HIS life and HIS cancer and HIS treatment and I got really disgusted. The very first thing they tell you after a cancer diagnosis is to limit your stress. They pound into your brain that stress kills and stress can exacerbate cancer growth and blah blah blah. They say all that and then you get notified that your insurance company that has happily taken your premiums for years and sometimes decades...has denied the recommendations of your doctors and is requiring you to jump through a million hoops, knowing all along that they are going to deny it anyway. How can you tell cancer patients to limit their stress during the single most stressful time of their lives and then add on to them the stress it takes dealing with faceless insurance adjusters that stamp DENIED on claims as if no ones LIVES were at stake? How the hell does that happen? I truly think that if an insurance company is going to deny life saving treatment to someone who really needs it...then they should have to deny it in person. Not on the phone or via email or letter. In person, with the patient and their family sitting right there staring them in the face. Let them see what their casual denials actually do to patients and their families. Oh, and it can’t be the low level adjuster who has no say in the process who comes to the family to deny claims. It needs to be someone who actually makes these decisions. I bet that would change things a bit. I was thinking maybe all of the people on this site that live in close proximity to where Florida BCBS has their office, could possibly get together for a little non peaceful protesting. Maybe a bunch of cancer patients standing outside their building holding signs that say “yes we agree this is the right treatment but we aren’t gonna pay for it” or better yet a sign that says “we don’t care if you live as long as your premiums are up to date”. How about a big sign that says “breathing is overrated...or, what’s a little organ damage when you have lung cancer? I’m not one who generally gets involved in organized protests but I think in this instance it’s a necessary thing to do. I have a ton of appts over the next couple of weeks including my PET scan to determine the amount of progression that’s going on with my cancer but I would happily take a day and fly down to Florida and camp out on the lawn of the Florida BCBS building. Maybe that’s what it’s going to take. A bunch of cancer patients standing out in the heat carrying signs in support of one another. I’m in NJ so I can’t be the one to put this together but if anyone wants to and thinks it’ll do some good then I can be on a flight Tuesday. Notice I said Tuesday because I have my esophageal dilation Monday and if I miss that I won’t be a happy camper lol.
Thoughts or ideas?
Deana
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ynkefan08753
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Just so everyone knows, I just put Florida blue on blast on Twitter. I told them that what they’re doing is disgusting and that I have made it a personal mission to see that the world knows how they deny requests for treatment even while agreeing that the treatment is the best option. I told them I’m going to make s YouTube video tonight and that the whole world will know that Florida Blue does not care about patients...especially lung cancer patients because we cost them too much money. I accused them of preferring that LC patients die and that’s why they deny life saving treatment because it’s in their best financial interest if we are dead. I word vomited all over their twitter feed lol. Had to send like 7 different tweets to fit it all in. I’m sure it’ll do nothing but I have to try everything. I will actually be making the Facebook video later today or tonight and will share the link here. We need it to go viral in order for it to do any good. Please look for the link and if anyone else wants to make a video as well...it can’t hurt. ✌️
I’m @Deana08757 They keep having my tweets deleted and I wish I knew how they were doing that. I haven’t said anything offensive or used bad language. Just speaking the truth. I’ll keep posting and they can keep deleting but it won’t slow me down any. Assholes lol
Just another FYI. I know it’s a long shot but because I’m a member of the RNC citizens group who supports President Trump (I don’t want to hear any comments from non supporters. This is about getting John English the insurance coverage he needs, not politics) I have a link that allows me to send emails directly to the Presidents staff. Obviously they can’t answer every one bit maybe if we keep sending them, someone will reach out to offer advice or help. I will post the link in a minute.
Ok..I found another way. If we go to whitehouse.gov and click on the menu bar in the left and click on contact it brings up a form to send an email to the President. It’s not a direct route but it’s All I have at the moment. I wish I could share the direct link to his page but it doesn’t allow me to share it randomly. Only with other members. 🙄🙄🙄 I’m gonna zip it now lol
Deana you go girl I wrote a nasty message To them it's really good.yesterday. if you would like to read it I would appreciate it. A lot of good it did. They are ass wipes. I'm so sad and really 😠. I'm going to keep after Florida Blue Cross they haven't heard the last of this. I feel so bad about Lisa and her dad John. Love susie jo
Ok I’ll look. Yes it’s veey sad and something needs to be done. I’m going to send an email to a friend on the hill. Maybe he can get the someone to intervene. Xoxo
Are you the Susan walls in spray beach NJ? If you are I can’t see anything because we aren’t Facebook friends. I’m gonna send you a freind request. I’m Deana Stowman so accept when you get it.
Deana I'm not sure how to send a friend request. Haven't ever done it. I'm not the Susan Walls in NJ. I'm the Susan Walls in Carlisle,Indiana. Sorry about that. Love Susie
I would be happy to do whatever could possibly sway the FL BCBS to make more patient-positive decisions.
I have no experience organizing a protest event, but I am a relatively level headed lung cancer survivor who is highly motivated to advocate for a fair healthcare system.
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