Pastor struggles to get insurance coverage

May 02--A benefit for Pastor Tony Angran of the Solid Rock Church of God in Centerville will be held Saturday beginning at 4 p.m. at Faith United Methodist Church at 23851 Highway 5 in Centerville.

Tony and his wife, Diana, have been dealing with his diagnosis of stage three esophageal cancer since January and his struggle getting insurance coverage blew up into a national news story in March covered by several media outlets including WHO radio in Des Moines, Fox News and Rush Limbaugh.

"We we're amazed," said Diana. "It turned real political and that was never our intent."

According to them in 2005 Tony suffered a heart attack. At the time, the couple lived in Illinois and Tony recovered. When they moved to Centerville so Tony could take over as pastor at the Solid Rock Church of God, they had a hard time getting insurance due to Tony's preexisting condition of the heart attack. In January of 2013 they were finally able to get what they thought was good insurance. It covered regular doctor visits, but what the couple didn't know was that the policy did not cover any major medical expenses.

On Jan. 17 Tony began suffering chest and back pain and thought it might be another heart attack. After several diagnostic tests, the Angran's got the news on Jan. 30 that Tony actually had stage three esophageal cancer. He began treatment and actually received one radiation treatment on Feb. 17, but on Feb. 18, when he arrived for his second treatment, they were informed that their current insurance had denied payment for the treatment he had received up until that point and had refused to pay for chemotherapy.

"When we first started getting these treatments we gave them the insurance information and it's our understanding they called the insurance company and they would pay and then they didn't...and there was just a lot of confusion there and it ended up that none of that was covered and since we didn't have the finances to pay for chemotherapy...we were sent home."

After being sent home the Agran's decided to sign up for insurance using the new government run exchanges. That same day, Feb. 18, they were able to find an insurance that had a $2,800 deductible and $4,000 out of pocket expense. With a subsidy, the cost would be $838 a month to purchase the policy, but it would cover Tony's treatment and other major medical expenses. After signing up the couple was upset to find out that since it was after Feb. 15, their coverage would not begin until April 1, rather than on March 1, which would of course delay Tony's treatment.

Being forced to wait until April 1 for insurance coverage is what led to the initial media stories, but nothing changed, and Tony did have to wait until April 1 to continue his treatment. The couple also ended up switching from Iowa Methodist to Mercy Medical Center's cancer center in West Des Moines, due to the coverage their new insurance was providing.

Since April 1 Tony has received about three weeks of a five and a half week radiation cycle. He also has one chemotherapy treatment each week. The couple stays in Des Moines Monday through Friday during the treatment. Diana said that their hotel stays are paid for by the American Cancer Society.

Having to delay Tony's treatment was only one part of the insurance problem though. The other part was that the couple now had to pay for almost all the treatment and testing Tony had received from Jan. 17 to Feb. 18. By the time they found out their original insurance would not be covering Tony's medical bills, they had accrued thousands in medical expenses. They are in the process of disputing some of the charges, but currently the couple owes around $70,000. According to Diana, their old insurance did pay between $6,000 and $7,000 towards the bill.

Because of all that has been happening, people at home have been organizing a benefit to try and help the Angran's pay for some of the expenses they built up under their original insurance.

While they have been concentrating on treatment, Lora Clayworth, a member of Tony's congregation at Solid Rock Church of God has organized a benefit to be held tomorrow at Faith United Methodist Church. Music will begin at 4 p.m. with a spaghetti dinner at 5 p.m. The dinner will be provided for a free will donation. Demry's Auction will begin at 6 p.m. auctioning items off to help raise money.

Donations can also be sent to Solid Rock Church of God, 1220 Rock Valley Road, Centerville, IA 52544. If sending a check, it can be made out to Solid Rock Church of God, Pastor Tony Benefit. Money is also being raised through the website www.fundly.com/pastor-tony-benefit. In total a little more than $15,000 has been raised so far to help the Angrans.

So far Tony's treatment is going well. He hasn't eaten any solid food since mid-February and has lost 43 pounds. The treatments are exhausting and it is also hard to be away from home for so long, but the couple is looking forward to the end of Tony's radiation and chemotherapy treatment.

"We're trying to keep active and go for small walks...to keep as healthy as we can," said Diana.

However, another difficult procedure will follow the treatment. Tony will have to have a major operation that will remove part of his stomach and esophagus and will pull his stomach up into his chest. He will then have to spend 6-12 months relearning how to swallow and eat. This surgery will take place about a month and a half after he finishes his current radiation and chemotherapy.

With all of the difficulties facing them the couple say they have been incredibly humbled by the support shown by the community. They have also received donations and prayers from all over after their story was covered by national media.

"We have gotten contributions from all over the country...and I know that people all around the world are praying for me," said Tony.

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