Woman spends 2 days in the ER and cath lab for a heart attack. Then CIGNA sends a letter about the $110,000 bill: ‘not medically necessary’

Access to affordable, high-quality healthcare remains a major challenge in the United States. Despite advanced medical technology, highly skilled professionals, and world-renowned hospitals, many Americans still struggle to get the care they need. Maria Simpson (maresimpson), from Cincinnati, Ohio, narrated in a TikTok video how she, too, became a victim of this system.

Simpson stated that “just two weeks” ago, she suffered a heart attack and was admitted to the hospital for two days. She said she spent time in the ER and cath lab, and that her hospital stay, along with a few other expenses, has brought her bill to $110,000. However, she said she received a letter from her insurance company, CIGNA, saying it wouldn’t cover her medical expenses.

“They said, after carefully reviewing the information, we determine the service is not medically necessary,” Simpson read from the letter sent by CIGNA. Interpreting what they meant by that, she said, “So they don’t think that saving my life was medically necessary.” Towards the end of her video, Simpson also mentioned that she expects that the hospital charges would go up even further, possibly putting her in an even more difficult predicament than she already is.

“Insurance companies need to be sued”

People reacted strongly to Simpson’s video, leaving tens of thousands of comments. Some spoke about insurance companies in the United States. One person wrote, “Insurance companies need to be sued for the stress and emotional distress they cause.” Another mentioned, “Why are we even paying for insurance? It’s disgusting. Medically necessary??? Omg.”

Others urged Simpson to take a few additional steps to ensure her bills are covered. One person said, “You need to call the hospital and ask them to code it correctly. They will send it back with a medical necessity diagnosis. 13 years in billing here. Let me know if you need anything else.” Another stated, “FILE AN APPEAL. They reject a lot of things hoping you’ll give up and won’t go through the appeal process. A lot of people don’t.”

People living in different regions around the world also chimed in, noting how their healthcare system is different from the United States’. One person wrote from personal experience. They said, “And some Americans think Canada’s health system is terrible. I can tell you we’ve never been handed a bill for $100,000. Never had a bill for any hospital visits.” Another remarked, “as an australian I will never understand American healthcare… we have a heart attack and wouldn’t have to spend a cent.. maybe , maybe some meds after the fact.”

Simpson’s situation highlights the urgent need for reform in the U.S. healthcare system. It also raises serious questions about insurance providers’ credibility and the criteria they use to decide what is and isn’t necessary.

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