ABC7: Insurance denies man a life-saving lung transplant as he was preparing for procedure

[Dennis Donovan]

ABC7 - Insurance denies man a life-saving lung transplant as he was preparing for procedure

By Leanne Suter
Thursday, May 8, 2025 9:08PM

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (KABC) -- A man was preparing to fly across the country for a life-changing double-lung transplant when his insurance company denied him coverage.

Deron Wells is battling stage 4 lung cancer. The husband and father of three is also now battling his insurance company.

"I am really sad that my life is in the hands of these decision-makers who seem to make these decisions in such a cold way," Wells said.

The 59-year-old and his family say Cigna had approved him for procedures that would allow him to be transferred to Northwestern Medicine in Chicago for a clinical trial double lung transplant he had been medically approved for.

As they were preparing to leave UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center on Friday, Cigna denied coverage for both the transplant and medical transfer to Illinois.

/snip

[SheltieLover]

1. Rotten fuckers!

Time to flood Cigna with complaint calls!

[Baitball Blogger]

2. Fifty-nine. Jesus. Too young.

And you wonder why Mangione did what he did?

[Silent Type]

3. Unfortunately, such surgery seldom works with STAGE 4 lung cancer.

[retiredwelder]

4. elections matter

Whenever I read something like this, don`t get me wrong, insurance companies are rotten bastards, I always wonder how you voted ?

[58Sunliner]

5. Sadistic.