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Opinion
The following is presented as part of The Columbian’s Opinion content, which offers a point of view in order to provoke thought and debate of civic issues. Opinions represent the viewpoint of the author. Unsigned editorials represent the consensus opinion of The Columbian’s editorial board, which operates independently of the news department.
News / Opinion / Letters to the Editor

Letter: Rethink insurance practices

By Judy Veazie, Vancouver
Published: January 15, 2025, 6:00am

I have unique insight about the UnitedHealthcare denials, based on working claims for health care providers for over 30 years. While United is top of the list for denials, it is not alone. Many other insurance payers have a terrible legacy of denials.

There are many, but in one example, I was working with a family who had a child with at least eight serious congenital conditions. We had performed an extensive surgery to stabilize her, which was approved by her insurance, Premera. Yet they continued to deny the claim, insisting the family could not prove the condition was not resulting from an accident, stating they had not received the forms required.

I helped the family certify the forms, but Premera wanted them to come to Seattle to sign the forms to prove that was their signature. I called them on the child’s third birthday and asked that they give the child a gift of paying her claims, saving the family the stress, but the worker still refused. If anyone reading this works in that insurance role, I hope you reflect on the pain you cause these families.

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