Is your insurance working against you? A dentist’s bold move is exposing a growing issue
- Replies 0
Insurance is meant to offer peace of mind. You pay your premiums, expecting coverage when you need it most.
But what happens when your claim is denied—without a valid reason?
That’s exactly what an 83-year-old man in Colorado experienced. His routine dental cleaning should have been fully covered. Instead, his insurer, Humana, refused to pay, citing "no evidence" for the procedure.
His dentist, Dr. Taylor Ross, wasn’t about to let it slide.
Dr. Ross has been serving the Pueblo West community for nearly a decade, but his experience in dentistry spans over 30 years. He’s seen many insurance disputes, but this one stood out the most.
His 83-year-old patient, who has difficulty using his hands, was struggling with oral hygiene. Knowing that poor dental health can lead to severe complications in older adults, Dr. Ross took photos of the man’s teeth and performed a routine cleaning.
The insurance company had promised to cover the cost in full. Yet when the claim was submitted, Humana denied it, stating there was “no evidence” that the cleaning was necessary.
For Dr. Ross, this wasn’t just about money. It was about integrity, patient care, and the growing trend of insurance companies denying legitimate claims.
How does insurance works? Source: Gohar Khan / YouTube.
Rather than quietly accepting the denial, Dr. Ross took an extraordinary step.
He put up a massive digital billboard along a busy highway, exposing Humana’s decision.
But he didn’t stop there. The billboard also displayed the name of Humana’s CEO, Bruce Bossard, along with his staggering $16.3 million salary.
"I wouldn't criticize, but this is so significantly egregiously wrong to deny this claim. Cleanings are very small ticket items that range between $80 and $200 depending on the extent of work that is done," explained Ross.
"Standard insurance pays 50% to 80% of the cost for cleanings, but in this case, Humana said they would pay 100%. The work was not extravagant and it's the core function of what dentists do."
His move struck a nerve.
Locals started talking, sharing their own horror stories of unjustified claim denials. The billboard became more than just a protest—it became a rallying cry.
Dr. Ross believes this denial isn’t an isolated incident.
He argues that insurance companies are increasingly using automated systems to deny claims without proper review. These AI-driven decisions often reject claims that would be easily approved if a human were involved.
“Sometimes there is no person looking at the X-rays or pictures and it is programmed to automatically produce denials,” Dr. Ross explained.
Patients—especially seniors—are often left without recourse, struggling to appeal decisions that should never have been denied in the first place.
Since putting up the billboard, Dr. Ross has heard from countless patients who have faced similar struggles with their insurance providers.
“This has reached a boiling point for many of us, patients and providers alike. We've seen this reverberate across the country since the killing of the UnitedHealth CEO and this is why the Luigi Mangione story is so captivating," said the dentist.
Many of his patients have now shared their own frustrating experiences with denied medical and dental claims. Some were forced to pay out of pocket, while others were left without the care they needed.
It’s a growing crisis—and Dr. Ross is determined to shine a light on it.
Dr. Ross has vowed to keep the billboard up until Humana reverses its decision and pays the claim.
But here’s the twist: he doesn’t even want the money.
If the claim is honored, Dr. Ross has pledged to donate the funds to the Pueblo Community College Dental Hygiene program, where he serves on the advisory board.
Dr. Ross’s bold stand is resonating with people across the country.
It’s a stark reminder that insurance companies don’t always have patients’ best interests at heart. Many rely on people not challenging denied claims, allowing them to maximize profits at the expense of those who need care the most.
For seniors and their families, this serves as an important lesson: Don’t accept denials without a fight. If an insurance company refuses to pay for something they promised to cover, push back. Appeal the decision, gather evidence, and demand a fair review.
This story is about more than just one elderly man’s dental cleaning. It’s about an entire system that sometimes works against the very people it’s supposed to help.
Also read: Doctor exposes how an insurance giant questions life-saving procedures
But what happens when your claim is denied—without a valid reason?
That’s exactly what an 83-year-old man in Colorado experienced. His routine dental cleaning should have been fully covered. Instead, his insurer, Humana, refused to pay, citing "no evidence" for the procedure.
His dentist, Dr. Taylor Ross, wasn’t about to let it slide.
Dr. Ross has been serving the Pueblo West community for nearly a decade, but his experience in dentistry spans over 30 years. He’s seen many insurance disputes, but this one stood out the most.
His 83-year-old patient, who has difficulty using his hands, was struggling with oral hygiene. Knowing that poor dental health can lead to severe complications in older adults, Dr. Ross took photos of the man’s teeth and performed a routine cleaning.
The insurance company had promised to cover the cost in full. Yet when the claim was submitted, Humana denied it, stating there was “no evidence” that the cleaning was necessary.
For Dr. Ross, this wasn’t just about money. It was about integrity, patient care, and the growing trend of insurance companies denying legitimate claims.
How does insurance works? Source: Gohar Khan / YouTube.
Rather than quietly accepting the denial, Dr. Ross took an extraordinary step.
He put up a massive digital billboard along a busy highway, exposing Humana’s decision.
But he didn’t stop there. The billboard also displayed the name of Humana’s CEO, Bruce Bossard, along with his staggering $16.3 million salary.
"I wouldn't criticize, but this is so significantly egregiously wrong to deny this claim. Cleanings are very small ticket items that range between $80 and $200 depending on the extent of work that is done," explained Ross.
"Standard insurance pays 50% to 80% of the cost for cleanings, but in this case, Humana said they would pay 100%. The work was not extravagant and it's the core function of what dentists do."
His move struck a nerve.
Locals started talking, sharing their own horror stories of unjustified claim denials. The billboard became more than just a protest—it became a rallying cry.
Dr. Ross believes this denial isn’t an isolated incident.
He argues that insurance companies are increasingly using automated systems to deny claims without proper review. These AI-driven decisions often reject claims that would be easily approved if a human were involved.
“Sometimes there is no person looking at the X-rays or pictures and it is programmed to automatically produce denials,” Dr. Ross explained.
Patients—especially seniors—are often left without recourse, struggling to appeal decisions that should never have been denied in the first place.
Since putting up the billboard, Dr. Ross has heard from countless patients who have faced similar struggles with their insurance providers.
“This has reached a boiling point for many of us, patients and providers alike. We've seen this reverberate across the country since the killing of the UnitedHealth CEO and this is why the Luigi Mangione story is so captivating," said the dentist.
Many of his patients have now shared their own frustrating experiences with denied medical and dental claims. Some were forced to pay out of pocket, while others were left without the care they needed.
It’s a growing crisis—and Dr. Ross is determined to shine a light on it.
Dr. Ross has vowed to keep the billboard up until Humana reverses its decision and pays the claim.
But here’s the twist: he doesn’t even want the money.
If the claim is honored, Dr. Ross has pledged to donate the funds to the Pueblo Community College Dental Hygiene program, where he serves on the advisory board.
Dr. Ross’s bold stand is resonating with people across the country.
It’s a stark reminder that insurance companies don’t always have patients’ best interests at heart. Many rely on people not challenging denied claims, allowing them to maximize profits at the expense of those who need care the most.
For seniors and their families, this serves as an important lesson: Don’t accept denials without a fight. If an insurance company refuses to pay for something they promised to cover, push back. Appeal the decision, gather evidence, and demand a fair review.
This story is about more than just one elderly man’s dental cleaning. It’s about an entire system that sometimes works against the very people it’s supposed to help.
Also read: Doctor exposes how an insurance giant questions life-saving procedures
