Shalom* was a cancer survivor of many years b”h. Unfortunately, in November of ’05, Goldy*- Shalom’s wife – was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  At that time, their one and only daughter, 18 year old Devorah*, was attending seminary in Eretz Yisroel.

Goldy was fortunate to be covered under two insurance policies, by way of her own and her husband’s employment. She started her extensive treatment at Memorial/Sloan Kettering Hospital with the understanding and verbal agreement from both companies that all charges would be covered between the two policies.

After eight months of severe treatment the family began receiving bills amounting to $100,000. This was the balance after both insurance companies had paid their share!  At that point the family was struggling for survival and was barely able to make ends meet, let alone pay such an astronomical sum. They couldn’t even think of starting to pay it. 

In time, collection law office letters replaced the hospital invoices, threatening to seize the family’s few assets.  Shalom and Goldy were conjuring images of their only daughter bereft of her parent, plus bereft of the assets which would be rightfully hers by inheritance.

Since the family had previously benefitted from RCCS services, they once again turned to the organization in their distress. “How can we allow this to happen to Devorah after all that she’s been through?” was the desperate plea of the ailing mother.

RCCS insurance advocates set out to battle the insurance companies. It was a slow, uphill battle with many twists and turns, albeit ultimately a victorious one.  In the course of their work on behalf of this case, RCCS advocates necessitated going as far as contacting the New York State Attorney General’s Healthcare Consumer Bureau, plus taking many more assertive actions.

In the interim, Goldy passed on leaving her heartbroken family in mourning.  At the very least they had the consolation that, after an extensive and grueling battle, RCCS succeeded in obtaining full recovery – between the insurance companies and the hospital – of the entire outstanding balance. In addition RCCS advocates acquired a legal notarized agreement from all three parties – the insurance companies, the collection firms, and the hospital – that they will not, henceforth, pursue any form of collection on this case. 

It’s a lot more pleasant to share case scenarios with a positive medical outcome of the patient, but in this case RCCS spared a stricken family the anguish of being left indebted on top of tragedy. Before closing the case RCCS ensured that the patient’s family was fully protected for the future.

In the words of the widower Shalom: “Who would think that a family that is doubly insured couldn’t do it without RCCS?  We cannot imagine being haunted by collection agencies, losing our assets, in addition to dealing with bereavement and related issues.”

May we share only good tidings.

RCCS Case #S26

To Contact RCCS, call (718) RCC-2002 or go to rofehcholim.org

* Names changed.