A man is in a desperate fight against stage 4 cancer and is seeking donations after his health insurance denied coverage for a vital lung transplant.
Deron Wells, aged 59, has advanced lung cancer, and his doctors have deemed him eligible for a double lung transplant—the only option that could save his life. Unfortunately, Cigna Healthcare, his health insurer, has refused to approve both the transplant itself and the emergency transport necessary for the procedure.
Wells needs to be transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago for the surgery. He was scheduled to move from UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, but Cigna denied coverage for both the operation and the transport needed to get him there, as reported by ABC7.
“It’s really disheartening that my life is in the hands of people making these decisions so coldly,” Wells expressed.
His family believes that without immediate medical intervention, he may not survive. “Our only option now is to get him to Northwestern. I hope Cigna understands how serious this is. We’re not just a number; we’re talking about his life,” said his wife, Janet Savarimuthu.
The Independent has sought comments from Cigna regarding the situation.
In a statement to ABC7, Cigna mentioned, “Our coverage guidelines are based on national clinical standards to ensure the best outcomes for patients.”
Statistics show that Cigna has a 21 percent claim denial rate, according to Value Penguin.
A GoFundMe campaign has raised $41,000 so far, with the organizer, Scott Kern, aiming for $1.5 million to cover the operation costs, emergency air transport, post-surgery recovery, and family relocation expenses.
“Deron deserves this chance, and we’re fighting hard to ensure he gets it,” Kern stated.
Wells is hoping for a change from the insurer; he believes he has much to live for, saying, “I really hope Cigna will rethink its decision because I still have a lot ahead of me.”
