Demand that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City Pay Andre Smith’s Emergency Room Bill!
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. (CEO Erin Stucky) (VP & Chief Communications Officers)
Our beloved Saint Louis County, Missouri community member, Andre Smith, almost died at the beginning of the year as a result of an infection in his mouth. Fluid filled his lungs, and he was unable to walk. His family rushed him to the emergency room. The doctors there told him he was within hours or days of possible death due to this infection from a peritonsillar abscess (in addition to 4 other diseases) - a condition that, if untreated, could lead to death.
Thankfully, ER doctors flushed him with antibiotics and fluids, saving his life. It took Andre weeks to recover.
But now his insurance company, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, is trying to stick him with a $16,264.76 bill.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City pays its Chief Executive Officer, Erin Stucky, over $2.4 million every year. That's 147 times Andre's bill. If they can afford to pay their executives like this, they can afford to pay for the emergency care Andre needed to save his life.
This is not right. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City is a health insurance company that says its mission is to “provide affordable access to healthcare and improve our members' health.” But BCBS of KC refuses to pay a bill when one of their “members” risked death!
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City. (CEO Erin Stucky) (VP & Chief Communications Officers)
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People’s Action builds the power of poor and working people in urban, rural, and suburban areas to win change through issue fights and elections. We are a national network of 38 state and local grassroots power-building organizations in 28 states–united in the work of building power with people to fight for the dignity and justice they deserve.
Our membership includes Missouri Jobs with Justice, a statewide coalition of more than a hundred community, labor, student, and faith groups and individuals from Springfield to St. Louis working to build transformative power for social, racial, and economic justice. We are committed to ensuring equitable healthcare access to our community.
Our beloved Saint Louis County, Missouri community member, Andre Smith, could’ve died at the beginning of the year as a result of an infection in his mouth. Fluid filled his lungs and he was unable to walk. His family rushed him to the emergency room. The Doctors there told him he was within hours or days of possible death due to an infection caused by a peritonsilar abscess. Thankfully ER Doctors flushed him with antibiotics and fluids saving his life. It took Andre weeks to recover. But now you, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, are trying to stick him with a $16,264.76 bill.
You pay your chief executive, Erin Stucky, over $2.4 million every year. If you you can afford that, we know you can afford to pay for Andre's emergency room visit.
This is not right. You say your mission is to “provide affordable access to healthcare and improve our members' health.” But now you refuse to pay a bill when one of your members, Andre Smith, could’ve died!
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City, you can pay, and you must pay for Andre's care.