Ended up in the ER because my health insurance denied my medications for almost 2 months

To preface I have suffered from Crohns disease for the last 20 years, and had a very serious flareup that lasted from 2017-2023 where I was in severe pain that ultimately resulted in organ removal surgery. Early in 2023 my doctor put me on two medications at once, something that was uncommon but she fought for me to have it done, and for the first time in 6 years I started feeling like my old self again.

After dealing with a layoff, I started a new job that fall, and at the time I was on COBRA from my previous employer. I was wary about going to a new insurance but paying for cobra was expensive and would eventually expire. Come December I spoke with the new insurance and told them I need these two medications, If I lapse I could fall ill again. They of course couldnt give me any promises but told me both were listed in their tier charts although they were going to be expensive. When January comes I get my first denial letter in the mail saying they didnt think two medications was a medical necessity. I told my doctor who wrote a letter of need saying both of these were critical to my wellbeing. Eventually the SECOND denial letter comes in, and now there's a massive appeal process, all the while its almost the end of January and I haven't had any doses since Christmas. The medicine companies try to get me on their reduced/free copay program but it had to be approved by insurance first so I didnt have many options left.

By February I was not feeling great until one morning I wake up at 4am very ill and in extreme pain. The only thing I could do was go to the ER at that hour and I sit in the waiting room for an eternity, before being sent back to a bay where they do all these tests on me and evetually shove an NG tube up my nose and down my throat (very painful) And sure enough, they found large pockets of inflammation and a a complete blockage due to lack of medication to treat it. I spent 3 days in the hospital before getting discharged, along with a nice pricey bill.

And the kicker, less than a week after that, my health insurance FINALLY sends me a letter saying I was approved for both medications, now almost at the end of February. After talking on the phone for considerable lengths, they rush delivered me both medications and I was finally back on my regiment. This is why I HATE having to switch health insurance companies. Especially when its proven and known I was responding positively to these drugs for 10 months on the previous insurance. This should never have to happen to anyone.