One of the CI websites that I frequent religously is Hearing Journey. This is a CI networking community sponsored by the manufacturer of my CIs, Advanced Bionics. I have been a member of this community ever since its inception in 2007. To date, I have posted over 200 replies to topics from various folks ranging from the mom whose child needs implants but doesn’t know where to turn to the Coloradian whose true passion is talking about, and eating, grits. In between, there is a wide variety of characters…Abbie in NJ who graces the cover of the current issue of HLAA magazine, Mike who was featured in the prior issue of the magazine, Evelyn whose inspiration and poetic grace is a pleasure to read, Tom who hates grits – Greg the Coloradian who loves grits, Kim who was my first contact and helped me tremendously while I was debating getting activated with the Auria or the Harmony, the lovely Meeeez Jennifer whose bubbling personality keeps us all on the “up and go”, and the Queen of them all who started Hearing Journey and is the sole reason we all are family…Gloria! And in between, all of those others whose contributions warrant consideration but at my advanced age and lack of politician skills I have a hard time remembering.

This is a story of a deaf man in Minnesota who was told by his insurance company that he is approved for bi-lateral implants yet two days he was turned down…but some clerical bureaucracy at the hospital that the “what if” scenario may be too much of a financial risk for the hospital. Here is Michael’s post…

I could write a very long post here but instead I will keep this short… I received an email yesterday afternoon (two days before scheduled surgery) saying the surgery is canceled because the hospital’s insurance coordinating office is concerned that if something should go wrong and I have to stay for more than 24 hours, the procedure woudl then be classified as IN-patient surgery and my medical insurance plant specifically limits impatient surgery to $10,000. Therefore they would not pay for the CI in that event. So the news is, after all of your wonderful help and support and my fretting over one or two CIs, etc… nothing is going to happen. I do intend to press this and continue to hope it is something that can be overcome but for now… surgery is off. the single most disturbing thing is that I have an email form the same person in the hospitals’ insurance office (dated January 24) saying that the surgery IS covered and explaining why the $10,000 cap is NOT a problem, I have a letter from the insurance company authorizing the surgery, (and more). so after three and a half months of getting OKs and planning, NOW they say here could be a problem so call it all off? THAT is the very worst part.

So just need to get this info out to you because I have received so many kind words and good wishes regarding the surgery that will not happen tomorrow.

Within 24 hours, the entire HJ community has rallied around Michael and on top of which, Advanced Bionics has mobilized their insurance department to make sure this human being gets what he truly deserves..the right to hear! Each and every one of us is ready to stand behind our comrade and Gloria has taken it upon herself, like a dog with a bone, to make sure that Michael is not denied what he truly deserves.

As of this writing, the wheels are in motion hopefully, with confidence Michael should once again realize his dream of what each and every one of us already have…the ability to hear. To all of those who dream of something, no matter how impossible or impassible…please remember three words that are the driving force behind everything I do….the 3Ps…Persistence, Perseverance and Patience.