🚨 ANTHEM HAS DECIDED IT’S MY DOCTOR AGAIN Earlier this year, @AnthemBCBS denied an MRI ordered to determine whether my CANCER HAD SPREAD, calling it “not medically necessary.” I publicly called them out. The post went viral. Anthem suddenly contacted me, apologized—and approved the scan. Now they’re doing it again. In August, I severely injured my left foot. I’ve been in acute pain ever since and am walking around Brooklyn in a giant medical boot. After two weeks of fighting just to get access to an in-network podiatrist, I finally saw a specialist. She examined me, ordered an X-ray, saw a hairline fracture and damage around the Achilles/heel area, and ordered an MRI so she can determine exactly what I injured and how to treat it. My podiatrist says the MRI is medically necessary and needs to happen ASAP. Anthem denied it. “Not medically necessary.” Let me make sure I understand this. The specialist who actually examined my foot, reviewed my X-ray and is responsible for treating me says she needs an MRI. Anthem — the insurance company that has to PAY for the MRI — says she doesn’t. Apparently Anthem is my podiatrist now. My MRI is scheduled for Tuesday, October 20 at 5 PM. Instead of simply getting the medical care my doctor ordered, I am now spending my time calling the provider, the imaging center and Anthem’s appeals department trying to persuade an insurance company to let my doctor practice medicine. And yes, there is an appeal process. There is always an appeal process. Because apparently being injured isn’t enough. You also need a second job as your own insurance claims attorney. Here is what makes me angriest: If Anthem refuses to approve the scan, I can pay for it myself. Millions of Americans cannot. What happens when someone living paycheck to paycheck is told the MRI their doctor ordered isn’t “medically necessary”? What happens when it isn’t a foot? What happens when it’s cancer? What happens when the patient simply gives up because they don’t have the money, time, energy or platform to fight a massive insurance company? I have already learned what happens when you publicly embarrass Anthem. A scan that wasn’t “medically necessary” suddenly became medically necessary. Nothing about my condition changed. The public attention did. Access to healthcare should not depend on your ability to make an insurance company uncomfortable on social media. My doctor ordered the MRI. Anthem denied it. The scan is Tuesday at 5 PM. Let’s see who blinks. And if you’ve had an insurance company deny care your doctor said you needed, tell me your story. I have a feeling there are a lot of us.