If there is one thing many Americans can agree on, it’s disliking health insurance. Over the years, insurance companies have earned a reputation for denying care, delaying approvals, and placing financial barriers in front of people who are already dealing with serious illness. Stories of rejected coverage are common, but some cases strike a deeper nerve because of what is at stake. One recent case involving a Colorado man has drawn widespread attention and reignited anger over how insurance companies operate in the United States.
The Colorado man, who has been diagnosed with cholangiocarcinoma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer, says his insurance provider, Cigna, denied coverage for a liver transplant recommended by his doctors. Cholangiocarcinoma often requires complex, long-term treatment, and in some cases a transplant offers the best chance at extending or saving a patient’s life. According to the Colorado man, his medical team agreed that a liver transplant was the next necessary step to improve his condition and reduce his dependence on ongoing treatments.
Despite that medical recommendation, Cigna denied the procedure. The Colorado man said this was not the first time he had run into obstacles with his insurance. Earlier in his treatment, he claims Cigna denied coverage for his current cancer medications multiple times. After appealing and repeatedly arguing his case, he was eventually approved for drugs that helped reduce the size of his tumors. Now, faced with another denial, the Colorado man has said he plans to appeal again because he wants to stay alive for his wife and son.
His story gained traction after he began posting videos online, explaining his situation and asking for help reaching anyone at Cigna who could explain the denial. As the videos spread, many people expressed outrage not only at the decision itself, but at how familiar the situation felt. The Colorado man quickly became a focal point for broader frustration with the U.S. healthcare system.
Online, users began sharing their own experiences with denied coverage and medical billing disputes. Some also tried to pressure Cigna directly, flooding the company’s social media pages with comments demanding answers and accountability in the Colorado man’s case.
One user commented, “Health insurance in this country is such a scam.” Another shared a personal experience, writing, “I had to change insurance in the middle of cancer treatment. The new insurance company tried denying my chemotherapy without proof I had cancer. My doctor was completely shocked.”
Others described long battles with Cigna specifically. One person said, “Cigna was awful. My surgeon was approved by insurance before surgery, but months later we received a bill for $50,000. We didn’t have that kind of money. We fought it for a long time before Cigna finally agreed to pay, but it was exhausting and stressful.”
The story of the Colorado man also caught the attention of people outside the United States, many of whom expressed disbelief at how healthcare works in America. One commenter wrote, “As a European, I have no idea what is going on in this video. It feels like watching something from another planet.”
