365 Days of Kidneys, Day 97 & 98
A reader of my blog, Abby, has sent me an unbelievable story.
A kidney donor has been denied insurance because he only has one kidney.
You can read the story in the New York Times, here.
Officials with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota refused to discuss Mr. Royer’s case because of privacy laws, but said in a statement that Minnesota residents who are rejected by private insurers can buy coverage through the Minnesota Comprehensive Health Association high-risk pool, which is what Mr. Royer said he did, though he is paying more for less comprehensive insurance.
How nice of BCBS of Minnesota to point that out.
In Mr. Royer’s case, tests found a high creatinine level in his blood, which was interpreted to mean that Mr. Royer had kidney damage. Dr. Connaire told the Blue Cross panel that heard Mr. Royer’s second appeal that creatinine levels are high in most, if not all, kidney donors.
There are donors in the article that didn’t receive health insurance from her employer after telling them she was donating a kidney and one who reconsidered her donation and decided not to after her insurance company gave her doubts that her future claims would be paid.
Of all the things for me to worry about by having chronically ill children with a life-threatening condition, this is at the top of the list. There are already enough challenges facing them but especially to have insurance carriers fighting agains them just seems insurmountable.
Post Footer automatically generated by Add Post Footer Plugin for wordpress.
I am thrilled to have found your blog! I am a mom of a kid with special needs and have been on a mission to connect with others. I have briefly read some of your posts about your beautiful children and am heartbroken but pleased to see they are doing well with their new kidneys… My daughter, Boom, has kidney disease as well and we know the day will come when she needs one too. Her left kidney has stopped growing years ago and is non functional, the right is being damaged daily from meds she has to take for a rare syndrome called Albright’s Hereditary Osteodystophy. The calcium she takes daily to sustain her life causes the kidneys to harden, like stone… not kidney stones but they calcify. Well, this article really blows me away, about the man being rejected for having one kidney… what a way to encourage people to donate huh? This is on the heals of another article I read where the Children’s Hosp of Philadelphia {one of our local ones} had tried to donate an organ (think it was a kidney) to a child with intellectual disabilites. My daughter is also intellectually disabled so this scares me too! I’m afraid the day will come when my daughter will need one and not be able to get one!
Anyway, I am so glad to have found your blog! I would like to ask you a question… sound like you’re mighty busy so forgive my forwardness! I am starting another blog in conjunction with my first called “Never lose your Sparkle” I am committing myself to boosting self esteem in children with special needs and medical issues because the need is so relevant. I was wondering if you would be interested in contributing a post. A short post would be amazing if that is what you could swing! How do you reassure your kids and keep their spirits up? How do you keep your children boosted, especially with all of their Dr appts and med procedures. Please take some time and think it over, please don’t hesitate to contact me anytime at kimberlysminkey {at} yahoo {dot} CoM!
So nice to have met you!
Kim