Docs are publicly shaming insurers—and the stories are disturbing
Industry Buzz
Today an insurance company infringed on my practice of medicine by refusing to cover the cost of the HPV vaccine at my clinic. This means, as a primary care doctor, I cannot protect my patients anymore from head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, penile, or anal cancer.
—Elizabeth Kazarian, MD, family medicine physician
Physicians across specialties are taking a bold stand on social media. In response to escalating insurance denials and mounting prior authorization burdens, doctors are flooding their feeds with a simple but explosive prompt: “Today, an insurance company infringed on my practice of medicine by…” Each post unveils a real story of how coverage decisions are delaying, derailing, or outright denying patient care.
This isn’t just a trend or a clever marketing moment. It’s a grassroots uprising from clinicians who say the system is reaching a breaking point. And nowhere are the stakes clearer than in cancer care, where denials and delays can mean the difference between early intervention and irreversible harm.
Cancer care denials: When prevention is blocked
In an Instagram Reel posted by @DocfluencerMDO, plastic surgeon Elisabeth Potter, MD, shared a story that hits at the heart of preventive care in oncology.
"Today insurance denied a procedure of one of my patients who has breast cancer. We wanted to do a procedure to decrease her risk of lymphedema and they said no," Dr. Potter said.
Family physician Elizabeth Kazarian, MD, highlighted another cancer-adjacent consequence.
"Today an insurance company infringed on my practice of medicine by refusing to cover the cost of the HPV vaccine at my clinic. This means, as a primary care doctor, I cannot protect my patients anymore from head and neck cancer, cervical cancer, penile, or anal cancer," she said.
Related: Insurers dictate how we practice: Is this relationship toxic?Beyond oncology: Patients at risk across specialties
It’s not just oncology. Neurosurgeon Betsy Grunch, MD, faced a denial for a lumbar disc replacement for a young patient, deemed “experimental” despite clear indications the procedure was necessary. Pediatrician Alok Patel, MD, saw a cardiology referral go out of network, forcing families into a logistical nightmare that could compromise continuity of care.
Endocrinologist Harpreet Tsui, DO, recounted a denial for a GLP1 therapy for a patient with fatty liver disease and fibrosis, a decision that directly undermines disease management. Plastic surgeon Blair Peters, MD, shared that insurance refused coverage for essential gender-affirming surgery components, dismissing the medical necessity entirely.
Last but not least, emergency medicine physician Owais Durrani, DO, offered perhaps the most chilling example: A specialist follow-up he referred was denied, and the patient later experienced a complicated seizure requiring intubation that lead to a coma.
Social media as a tool for advocacy
For physicians who’ve ever said, “Someone should do something about this,” this campaign offers a clear answer: You are that someone. By leveraging social media, doctors are reclaiming their voices, documenting systemic harm, and driving conversations that insurers can no longer ignore.
The takeaway for physicians is both practical and urgent: Insurance denials aren’t just frustrating—they’re dangerous. Sharing stories, supporting colleagues, and advocating for policy changes are no longer optional; they’re essential steps to protecting patient health.
Related: Doctors speak up: The most common patient health insurance challenges