By Chelsea Davenport – Co-Founder PEAK 1 Wellness
I have a very dear friend that had a baby girl at then end of last summer. What was a happy and blissful time with this new addition to her family soon turned out to be a very scary time. A few weeks after her birth she was having serious health concerns which landed her in the hospital. Her situation was so severe that she had to be transferred to a different hospital that was better equipped to handle her critical condition. She then needed to be put on life support and was fighting for her life.
My dear friend is a first responder and military wife. She is also a mother of two other darling children. Little did she know that even though her daughter’s condition would improve she would be spending the first 5 months of her life in a hospital. Throughout this 5 months, while she should be focused on the health of her baby and caring for her, the insurance company started to deny coverage for her. Because they are a military family, they have Tri Care under Humana. They are denying that the baby was in critical condition, even though she was on life support, and are holding the family responsible for a large part of the hospital stay. They are also using the excuse that my friend “chose” to take her to the hospital she received care at when in fact she was transferred by 2 other hospitals.
Her daughter is finally home and she now spends her days fighting with the insurance company and harassing calls from collection agencies. Currently they are denying her her medication and prescription food that she needs due to her health conditions. And she is doing this all on her own now that her husband has been deployed and still won’t be home for several months.
This should not be happening. She hasn’t even had a chance to process and grieve over what happened to her baby and the trauma of almost losing her child. Not to mention the incredible stress of not having her husband’s support since he is out fighting for our country.
If you, someone you love or someone you know needs help, call:
Safe Call Now: 24 Hour Confidential Hotline: 206-459-3020
For more information on the First Responders program: Click here
Or call Shannon Clairemont at 661-466-6352 or Vanessa Stapleton at 304-651-3008
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Published by armorupnow
Sean Riley is the Founder and President of Safe Call Now, a confidential, comprehensive, 24-hour crisis referral service for public safety employees, all emergency services personnel and their family members nationwide. Safe Call Now was started in 2009 after legislation was passed guaranteeing confidentiality nationwide for all who call the Safe Call Now crisis line that is staffed by current and former first responders.
Sean played baseball for San Diego State University and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Public Administration. He started his law enforcement career as a San Diego County Deputy Sheriff in 1987 and later relocated to Washington State in 1990. Sean spent over 16 years with the Kirkland Police Department. His many accomplishments include being a member of the International Homicide Investigator's Association, Homicide and Sexual Assault Detective, Interview and Interrogation Specialist, D.A.R.E. Officer, Gang Officer and Certified Training Officer. Riley is also credited with solving one of the first ever elder abuse homicide cases in the nation.
Sean's prominent career in law enforcement ended in 2005 when he could no longer hide his "secret" behind the badge. Sean threw away his almost 20-year stellar police career due to alcohol and drug addiction and was headed towards suicide to become just another unknown statistic. In addition to attending college for substance abuse counseling, Sean worked as a supervisor at a local treatment center where he witnessed many public safety employees coming in and out of treatment. Riley decided to do something about it. From his own experience, he knew that first responders wanted to come forward to help, but due to the stigma attached, they would not. Admitting to a substance abuse or mental health problem is perceived as a sign of weakness and could result in the termination from a noble career. By creating a safe and confidential place to reach out for help, first responders are now coming forward in droves from around the nation to better their lives, better their families and better their careers.
Recognized as a dynamic national keynote speaker, Sean travels throughout the country to share his inspirational story. Coupled with cutting edge, interactive training, Riley hits those once thought of as "taboo" or "controversial" topics head-on.
"Safe Call Now provides education, healthy alternatives, resources and a complete continuum of care to save lives and put families back together. Through a collaborative effort, Safe Call Now has discovered when you provide an opportunity for an individual to get their life and their family back, you get one great employee back out serving the public."
- Sean Riley, Founder/President
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