Almost three decades ago, my son was diagnosed with WPW and needed either open-heart surgery or a new procedure called “catheter oblation”. The open-heart surgery back then was a 6-week recovery time whereas the new procedure threaded the probes through the femoral artery and into the heart to oblate the false path. Recovery was a couple of days. Although experimental, we opted for the oblation. The expected cost was $50,000, but a fraction of the open heart option. Blue Cross-Blue Shield denied the request stating that it was “experimental”. I told this story to very good friend who said: “Do the surgery. I’ll pay for it.”
Long story short: My son was the first non-adult to have the surgery which was a success. Three weeks before the surgery, BCBS said they would honor the claim. They are not always on the bad side of the story.
I have had that.................