About a year ago, at the age of 61, I was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a form of blood cancer. While receiving treatment, I’ve experienced how insurance companies are dehumanizing our care.

I was shocked to receive computer-generated letters from my insurance company, questioning the purpose and coverage, once for a necessary hospital admittance, and another for a vertebrae procedure. I was especially appalled to read, “we need additional information in order for us to make the best decision about your care.” I’m suffering from a debilitating disease, I’ve paid costly premiums for several years, I’m receiving quality care from Roswell Park (a nationally known and respected institution) and yet I’m forced to have added emotional pain worrying about whether or not the services I need will be covered.

Not only is this reprehensible, but the administrative costs accumulated in these pursuits nationwide have to result in a great deal of wasteful spending. We need cost-effective health care that works for patients and providers, not for record-making profits of the insurance companies. The time for serious health care reform is now.

Florence Donato

Amherst