Man's LEG AMPUTATED After United Healthcare DENIED Care: “Not Medically Necessary to Save My Leg”

Our Ashley Bishop interviews Michael Kissling, whose rare condition led doctors to recommend a stent to be placed in his leg—which United Healthcare denied. As a result, he eventually had to amputate

Status Coup reporter Ashley Bishop talks with Michael Kissling, a man who was born with May Thurner's Anatomy, a rare condition in which the main artery and vein in one's leg, which should have run parallel, is crossed over, causing severe pain and potentially life-threatening infection.

Several doctors recommended Michael receive a stent in his left leg to hold open a pinch point that was causing blood clots—but United Healthcare refused to cover the procedure, claiming he did not qualify for the stent. The denial caused his leg pain to worsen, swelling as a result of the clotting and causing his limb to become like an overfilled water balloon.

Eventually, in order to save his life, Michael had no choice but to amputate his leg. After the amputation, Michael eventually was ready for a prosthetic leg—for which United Healthcare also denied. According to his vascular surgeon, the $3000 stent not only could have saved his leg, it would have prevented all the medical costs that followed—which was well over a million dollars.

For more information about Michael's story and class action lawsuit, read here.