Keaton Herzer Colorado dad approved by Cigna after Instagram campaign for life saving cancer surgery after repeated denial & run around by private health insurer. Case re-ignites debate about ‘life and death’ private health insurance in the United States.
A married Colorado father of a young boy diagnosed with cancer has finally been approved for vital life saving liver transplant, this despite the man in recent weeks documenting the torment of seemingly being given the run around by his private healthcare insurance company, CIGNA.
Keaton Herzer, a Colorado resident according to posts he shared on social media, was recently diagonozed with cholangiocarcinoma (a rare cancer of the bile duct) and bed ridden in hospital and had begun documenting his urgent need for liver transplant.
Life or death battle for life saving cancer surgery at the hands of private health insurer
According to posts shared on his Instagram account, @keatonherzer the young father explained he had private insurance through his employer in California. In recent posts, Herzer stated being physically hospitalized, lying in a hospital bed, and repeatedly denied a liver transplant.
Herzer’s dilemma was initially shared on subreddit-medicine, with a recent post reading; ‘For context; he has been denied claims on a liver transplant procedure via his employee healthcare and has been cataloguing his dealing with customer service. It is not entirely novel to most persons here, but it is a blatant example and evidence of insurance malpractice the dealings with their service teams.’
Posted True Crime Mama who had also been following the unfolding drama: ‘He has begun documenting his experience daily, repeatedly attempting to reach someone at Cigna for help. Each day, he tries to get answers, only to be transferred back and forth or disconnected entirely. Despite ongoing efforts, he has been unable to get his assigned Cigna care manager to return his calls. He urgently needs assistance. His condition is critical.’
Come Saturday the beleaguered father had good news to share with his followers. Whether as a result of pressure applied on his insurance provider or perhaps after a stringent review process, Herzer shared that he had in fact been approved for life saving surgery.
Colorado dad shares good news but raises concern for others who wont be approved for life or death medical procedures
Shared the father, ‘HUGE UPDATE! WE WIN! WE DID IT! Thank you all this is insane but each of you has played a role in potentially saving my life. I’m so grateful for all of you. WE KEEO GOING NO MATTER WHAT. ❤️ you all.’
Responded one commentator, which led to a huge uptick; ‘I’m available to cyberbully any insurance company if someone else needs some support!’
Stated Herzer in shared video: ‘I can’t wrap my head around it. Each of you has played a role in potentially saving my life. I think that’s pretty cool. It’s cool but it shouldn’t be like this. I shouldn’t have to do that. We shouldn’t have to do that. And it turned out okay for me.
‘But they’re gonna do this again. Do this tomorrow and nobody’s gonna hear about it. And that doesn’t exactly sit right with me. So I’m still processing all of this. I am going to spend some time with my son, so I have been a little distracted this past couple of days. And I have a new purpose in life, to make sure that this sh*t doesn’t happen. I don’t know how. But we can do anything right?’
Colorado dad’s drama revives debate about private health insurance in the U.S
Herzer’s story comes just over a year after UnitedHealthcare CEO, Brian Thompson, was allegedly shot and killed at the hands of 26 year old ivy leaguer, Luigi Mangione who cited his own private insurance health provider dragging its heels on providing necessary treatment and the personal toll along with an alleged manifesto he penned discussing how public goods such as healthcare in the hands of private industry can lead to catastrophic outcomes.
The case has since led to wide debate and demands for overhaul of the private healthcare industry in the United States.
