Insurance company Cigna Healthcare denied a man battling stage 4 lung cancer a life-changing double-lung transplant.
Per ABC7, Deron Wells, 59, said he received medical approval to undergo a clinical trial double lung transplant, and Cigna had initially given the green light for his transfer to Northwestern Medicine in Chicago to undergo the procedures.
“I am really sad that my life is in the hands of these decision-makers who seem to make these decisions in such a cold way,” Wells said.
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Wells and his family were getting ready to depart the UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center last Friday, but Cigna ultimately reversed its decision.
“The last option we have is for us to take him to Northwestern, period. I hope Cigna really understands the seriousness of the situation. We’re not just a number. We are talking about his life,” Wells’ wife, Janet Savarimuthu, said.
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The usual treatment for lung cancer does not include a lung transplant. “Our coverage guidelines are grounded in national clinical standards to help ensure the best possible outcomes for patients,” Cigna Healthcare said in a statement.
Wells said he’s “truly hoping that Cigna will change its tune and will have a positive outlook on this because I’m not done yet.”
Meanwhile, his friends have set up a GoFundMe to help raise funds for him to be able to undergo the life-saving procedure.
“Deron has advanced lung cancer and has been medically approved by doctors at both UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles and Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago for a double lung transplant. This procedure is his only path to survival — and the medical teams are ready to act,” the fundraiser states.
“Deron is one of the most loyal, kind-hearted people you’ll ever meet. He has given everything to his friends, his family, and his community — and now, we are coming together to fight for his life,” the fundraiser adds. “Every donation, no matter the amount, brings us one step closer to giving Deron the chance he deserves.”
