Case Study - Working the System: One Cancer Patient's Story

HEALTHY CONSU DECEM Working the Sy By ANN James M health. Then he go Mr. MGeneral ElectricCo.

and other companie Niguel, three cars and in early 2004 and used The next year, his small intestine and pricey lab tests and more. He esti other expense lives in a recrea receive periodi The ordeal has treated for a majo defend our ow medical consumers health.

W together on a con worker at his insurance an operation took pl has been able to "Unless you whose computer con and coverage decisi bill, they pay After becoming sel chose a policy an annual deduc says he didn't notice doctors out of 80% of what Assu In September 2005 Phoenix his small intestine, had only tw hearing," says M Doctors remov later, accompanie As Mr. M Instead, the insu seen for the prev bought the policy called the insurer and says, Assurant paid Assurant said it coul Still, M several hundred doll realized physici In a statement to patients to try Mr. M in his liv system. Be of benefits. He also his digestiv explainin helpful case wo In early 2006, M Sinai Med would regenera of the Cedars-Sina advance to accep thousands of dol But when M damaged for the su cleaned. He we Then the bill with the oncologis exams.

conference calls be He also got a few And he wrote le hardship." M scans and lab ex Cedars-Sinai said it the hospital has a Once his surgical w chemotherapy dru destroying M interventional performed more than Desperate to to not raise the bil After two rounds o appeared dead or had two more che Later in 2006, M after insurance pay the doctor's o personally payment, forgivi back tears.

Dr. Palestrant didn' \227Email anna.mathew Printed in The