Search
Advertisement
  • Apr 8, 2008 8:09 pm US/Pacific
  • Digg | Facebook | E-mail | Print

Kaiser Patient Gets Surprise Up-Front Charge

Reporting
Jeanette Pavini
(CBS 5) Les Mahler is a journalist, covering a variety of topics, but this past year his articles were more personal. He wrote about what he claims was delayed treatment for a tumor behind his eye, because of an original misdiagnosis by Kaiser.

"I had an appointment with the surgeon again and he sat me down and he goes I have good news for you it is one hundred percent benign," explained Les.

So, he went for a second opinion at UCSF and was told, "You have adenoid cystic carcinoma and you need to know that this is nearly always fatal, it's a very rare cancer."

Les was told he has 6 years to live. 

"I've basically been handed the death sentence even though I've been told all these months that it was benign. " said Les.

He began his journey of treatment through Kaiser and pays his monthly premium along with co-pays for each treatment, until recently.

"I had an MRI scheduled and all of a sudden I'm being told I have to pay $975 dollars up front. I've never been told that," said Les. 

That was his deductible, but being on disability he didn't have the money.

"So, I didn't do the MRI as scheduled." Said Les.

He called ConsumerWatch and we contacted Kaiser.

They immediately set up an MRI appointment for him and agreed to bill him for the $975.  In a statement, Kaiser said it was "sorry for any frustration," but added that "patients should understand their health insurance coverage."

These days he has turned from expressing his feelings through writing articles to writing songs.

"I still see life as being you know a great thing and I'm enjoying it right now," said Les.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

From Our Partners

Video

You need the latest Flash player to view video content.
Click here to download.

Click here to bypass this detection if you already have the latest Flash Player.

Seen On CBS 5

Top News Stories

Advertisement

© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.