Father with Stage 4 Cancer Dies After Insurance Denies Tumor-Shrinking Treatment

Key Points

• Insurance denied histotripsy treatment for stage 4 cancer patient, citing 'not medically necessary'.
• Family faced $50,000 out-of-pocket cost for potentially life-saving treatment.
• Over 25% of physicians report serious adverse events due to prior authorization denials.

Full Details

Eric Tennant, a West Virginia public employee with stage 4 cancer, died after his insurance provider, the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) partnered with UnitedHealthcare, denied coverage for histotripsy, a tumor-shrinking treatment. The insurance company deemed the treatment 'not medically necessary,' despite recommendations from Tennant's doctors. The family faced out-of-pocket costs of around $50,000, which they briefly considered paying from retirement savings. This case highlights the impact of prior authorization practices, with a KFF survey finding that over a quarter of physicians reported serious adverse events due to such denials. The incident has sparked criticism of insurance practices and calls for reform in authorization processes. Tennant's story underscores the human cost of insurance denials and the need for more patient-centered care decisions.