Having worked as a Registered Medical Assistant, I have witnessed firsthand the detrimental impact insurance companies can have on patients' well-being. In countless situations, I observed patients being denied medically necessary testing, procedures, and medications, leading to unnecessary suffering and added risks. Compounding the issue, I am also a disabled individual with complex health needs that require not only standard care but also "off-label" medication use and unique treatment options. My own battles with insurers who refuse to cover what my healthcare provider deems medically necessary have resulted in both financial and health setbacks personally.

Health care decisions should be made by qualified medical professionals in consultation with their patients, not by insurance administrators whose main goal is often to reduce costs. Despite the evident necessity and physician recommendations, many patients are forced into an endless cycle of appeals when trying to access the care they need due to insurance refusals. Additionally, delays in approvals exacerbate their medical conditions, putting lives in jeopardy.

According to the American Medical Association, prior authorization processes used by insurers contribute to delays or denials of requested treatments about 92% of the time, compromising patient safety and inflating costs due to untreated or worsened conditions later. The National Center for Policy Analysis reports that administrative costs account for 20-25% of the total healthcare expenditure in the U.S., showing a system more focused on paperwork than patients.

A viable solution involves mandating insurers to defer crucial medical coverage decisions to the healthcare providers who understand the intricacies of a patient’s medical needs. Removing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers and creating more reasonable processes for approval can positively transform health outcomes for those who rely on timely and effective care.

Let us advocate for a change where insurance companies are required to put patient safety, medical necessity, and physician recommendations at the forefront. Encourage your legislators to create policies mandating coverage of medically necessary care as determined by healthcare providers. Join me in urging insurers to fulfill their ethical responsibility and truly serve the health interests of their policyholders.

Sign this petition to support the call for mandating health insurance coverage that prioritizes patients’ medical needs and curtails harmful delays and denials.

Visit AKGAdvocacy.org for more information, ways we can fight back, and templates of letters you can send decision makers.