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'Out of control': Cancer surgeon claims UnitedHealthcare questioned her mid-procedure (www.rawstory.com)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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A breast cancer surgeon had to "scrub out mid-surgery" to call a UnitedHealthcare representative because the insurance giant questioned whether the procedure she was in the middle of performing was really necessary.

Dr. Elisabeth Potter posted her story to Instagram this week, and the post has gotten more than 221,000 likes.

Still wearing her scrub cap, Dr. Potter began her video saying, "It’s 2025, and navigating insurance has somehow just gotten worse."

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[–] [email protected] 17 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

It happened to my partner as well. I put most of it in its own comment, but she found out from her surgery team, as she was waking up afterward, that they had been told mid-procedure that the surgery wouldn't be covered.

[–] jacksilver 15 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Like what bullshit is that. Once the surgery has started I think you've lost the ability to deny anything.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Exactly. You approved it, already. You can't then un-approve it once things are rolling, based on your own say so.

[–] UnderpantsWeevil 7 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

You approved it, already.

You can't wait for insurance approval on certain procedures - appendicitis, for instance. You've got to file the claim and hope they approve it.

And insurance companies love to slow roll claims approval, particularly in situations where saying "we need more time to consider" means a higher likelihood of the patient dying before receiving care. Liver cancer is a common case.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 weeks ago

I'm... Aware. This whole subject was about over they did pre-approve though. Then changed their mind....

[–] shalafi 0 points 2 weeks ago

Yeah, but did they finish? That was the point of my post. I can't see a surgeon saying, "Well, pack it up boys, not covered." Let alone personally taking a call.