LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Deron Wells has been at UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center for the last month fighting for his life as he battles Stage 4 lung cancer.
The husband and father of three was preparing to fly across the country for a life-changing double-lung transplant when his insurance company denied him coverage.
But on Monday, Wells and his family got the call he and his family have been praying for. His final appeal was approved by his insurance company, and Wells will be able to get the procedure.
“Excited, very enthusiastic. So happy that Cigna went through the IRO process and is giving me a second chance,” Wells said from his hospital bed.
Wells, 59, had been medically cleared for a clinical double-lung transplant program at Northwestern Medicine in Chicago. Doctors say it could save his life.
Wells and his wife say Cigna last week had approved procedures that would allow him to be airlifted to Illinois, and they assumed that meant approval for the transplant would follow.
But as they were preparing to leave UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center, Cigna denied coverage for the transplant since it’s not a standard treatment for lung cancer, and the insurance company doesn’t cover clinical trials.
However, Wells’ appeal was approved, and he’ll soon be on his way to Chicago.
“I’m thrilled. My heart is beating so fast,” Wells’ wife Janet Savarimuthu told Eyewitness News. “I just can’t express in words how happy we all are. We are truly, truly grateful for everything that has happened today, and I give glory to God.”
In a statement, Cigna Healthcare said:
“We understand that facing a complex disease or condition can be incredibly challenging and we are glad that our established review process – designed to ensure that every patient gets a fair and objective determination of coverage – has resulted in an outcome where Mr. Wells will be able to receive this experimental treatment.”
If all goes according to plan, Wells will be transferred to Chicago as early as Tuesday. Once he arrives, he will undergo testing and then he’ll be put on the list for the double-lung transplant.
Wells says this is everything he’s been praying for and that he’s ready to continue to fight for his life.
As Wells fought to appeal, his story touched millions.
“It just went so viral, and we’re realizing how much people love each other,” Savarimuthu said. “It’s a big part of the community that has kept us going in this past week.”
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help Wells with ongoing medical expenses.
