Sule Digugat Cerai, Hak Asuh Anak Diminta, dan Isu Perselingkuhan
source: https://entertainment.kompas.com/read/2018/05/10/094214510/sule-digugat-cerai-hak-asuh-anak-diminta-dan-isu-perselingkuhan
So in June, Strassner-Fullone got a gene test. The result said "high cancer risk."
Kim Strassner-Fullone, Pittsford: "And the first thing I said was, 'oh my God am I going to die?'"
One option from the genetic testing at Elizabeth Wende Breast Care said "risk-reducing mastectomy." Strassner-Fullano and her doctors agreed and her double mastectomy surgery was in September.
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield approved and paid for the surgery.
Kim Strassner-Fullone, Pittsford: "It brought me from a 52 percent chance of getting breast cancer to a 4 percent chance of getting breast cancer."
Strassner-Fullone applied for disability to cover the four weeks she would be out of work. But on October 5, the decision from insurance company Mutual of Omaha came. It read her "claim has been denied."
Two weeks later, New York State's decision came. It read "no benefits are payable for elective procedures which are not for treatment of any injury or illness."
Brean: "New York State turned you down for this disability insurance too?"Kim Strassner-Fullone, Pittsford: " Yes."
Brean: "So what the insurance company told you is you should have gotten cancer first and then have the surgery."Kim Strassner-Fullone, Pittsford: "Yes, they told me if I had the diagnosis of cancer it would be no problem."
News10NBC obtained the denial letter from Mutual of Omaha. It says Strassner-Fullone did "not meet the definition" of sickness and the surgery was "not medically necessary." So I went to go talk to one of Strassner-Fullone doctors.
Brean: "Was her preventative surgery appropriate?"Dr. Stephen Evangelisti, plastic surgeon: "Absolutely."Brean: "And necessary?"Dr. Evangelisti: "And necessary."
Dr. Stephen Evangelisti is Strassner-Fullone's plastic surgeon. I reminded him that Mutual of Omaha and New York State did not think she had an illness.
Brean: "And that's technically correct. She did not have an illness. What do you think about that?"Dr. Stephen Evangelisti, plastic surgeon: "Well what's the definition of an illness? If you have a genetic disorder that predisposes you potentially to cancer, dying young, 40 percent risk. To me that's an illness."
Strassner-Fullone went back to work a week early. She has reconstructive surgery in January.
Strassner-Fullone: "I'm not even fighting this at this point for myself. I'm fighting it for the single mother out there that can't afford to be out of work for six weeks and doesn't have the surgery because of that."
Mutual of Omaha doesn't talk about individual cases. In an email, the company's Vice President of Communications told me "coverage decisions are based on the facts of each case and the provisions of the insurance contract."
News10NBC is still trying to figure out who in New York State denied the disability claim. When we find out, we want to ask -- why do you deny disability claims for preventative life-saving surgeries?
Pittsford mom chooses life-saving preventative surgery, state and insurance deny disability claim
