I Won My Appeal. Here's What I Lost

Written by Natalie Hayden / Illustrated by Mads Horwath

I have IBD and, for sixteen years, I’d had amazing success on a biologic medication called Humira. Then, one day, my insurance informed me that they’d no longer cover it. (For reference, if you have no insurance at all, one month of Humira could cost as much as $7,000.)

The insurance company forced me on a “bio-similar” as a substitute — apparently not similar enough, because I suffered severe adverse reactions.

It took two appeals (and two months of debilitating IBD symptoms on Hyrimoz) to get my Humira back. I won my case, but I suffered immensely as an IBD mom of three kids who had been in deep remission nine years prior.

This was written by Natalie Hayden who runs a blog called Lights, Camera, Crohn's - An Unobstructed View and her instagram handle is @natalieannhayden.

This was Illustrated by Mads Horwath who is a regular cartoonist for the New Yorker.