CQC delivered binders of real life patient stories to Congressional committees ahead of the January 22nd hearing

Washington, D.C. — Today, in advance of the House Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce committee hearings on the role of insurance companies in rising health care costs for Americans, Consumers for Quality Care (CQC) provided committee members with news-documented patient examples illustrating how major health insurance companies’ practices have led to delayed care, unjust denials, undue financial burden, and compromised outcomes. The cases underscore the lived consequences of health insurance coverage barriers that many Americans continue to confront.

The materials were shared as the committees prepare for the January 22nd hearings where top executives from major health insurance companies will be called to testify on health insurance affordability and industry practices. National Infusion Center Association, Infusion Access Foundation, Hydrocephalus Association, Choose Healthy Life, Allergy & Asthma Network, Treatment Communities of America, Cohn’s & Colitis Foundation, Alliance for Patient Access, Headache & Migraine Policy Forum, MANA, A National Latina Organization and Digestive Disease Coalition are collaborating with CQC to highlight the urgent need for oversight and reform and to provide lawmakers with real-world examples of how insurer practices negatively impact patients and families nationwide. The documentation is intended to provide relevant context and urgency to the upcoming hearings, illustrating the role played by large insurers in limiting Americans’ access to care.

The documentation shared with Congressional offices includes cases that reflect:

• Delayed care and dangerous postponements of physician-recommended treatment
• Unjust denials that restrict access to medically necessary services
• Undue financial burden caused by surprise costs and claim denials
• Compromised clinical outcomes resulting from health insurer barriers and delays

CQC emphasized that these reports are part of broader, systemic patterns that undermine patient access, affordability, and quality of care. Routine delays, unjust denials, and administrative hurdles create barriers that prevent timely treatment, often leading to serious health consequences and financial strain for consumers. The cases CQC shared with congressional offices highlight the urgent need for accountability and reforms to ensure that patients can receive the care they need without unnecessary obstacles.