For Casey-Lee Peters, a mother fighting a rare, aggressive form of bladder cancer, that was just the start of her heartbreaking news. Her life insurance policy was suddenly terminated due to a clerical mistake. Peters’ diagnosis came in January. Since then, she’s gone through a storm of medical procedures—including having her port put into her chest through which medicine can be administered. She unintentionally failed to report her ten-year history of chronic urinary tract infections (UTIs) and one former diagnosis of ovarian endometriosis while changing insurance plans. MetLife accordingly denied her claim.
Peters had just come back from maternity leave and was in the process of moving homes. She was shocked that updating her address would leave her family exposed like this after switching insurance companies. She urged them to make sure other women don’t get caught up in the same trap. “I have a two-year-old who’s not going to remember me,” Peters lamented, highlighting the emotional toll of her diagnosis and the financial implications of losing her insurance coverage.
Her husband, Luke Peters, who shared his wife’s fear and frustration, called on big insurance companies to consider the human consequences of their decisions. He called the cancellation “a body blow” after the initial heartbreak of Casey-Lee’s diagnosis with cancer. The couple’s reality has them facing an uncertain future. In June, Casey-Lee received the devastating news that her cancer is no longer responding to treatment, and she has been given just 12 months to live.
Medical Challenges and Diagnosis
In January, Casey-Lee Peters, 26, got her diagnosis after suffering from persistent UTIs and severe stomach aches. Further tests, ordered by her GP, eventually revealed a lump in her bladder, later confirmed as cancer. Peters has waged war on UTIs since she was born. Still, sitting down to fill out her insurance paperwork, she did not include her long history of health issues—or her past surgery for ovarian endometriosis.
That’s what one of Peter’s doctors, Dr. Sandra Elmer, bravely risked her career by testifying about. She elevated the impact on millions of people who may experience unjust discrimination due to similar disclosure mandates. “That’s a huge amount of the population which may be disadvantaged or unfairly discriminated against when there’s absolutely no link between those urinary tract infections and bladder cancer,” she stated.
In the study, Dr. James Lynam noted there is no evidence linking UTIs to rare and aggressive cancers. This would include bladder cancer as well. His remarks highlight the complication medical histories play in the broader conversation and consequences of losing coverage due to preexisting conditions.
The Impact of Insurance Decisions
MetLife’s justification for canceling Peters’ policy was based on their determination that she failed to provide complete medical history. A spokeswoman for the company disclosed that they would not have provided her any settlement terms had they known about the UTIs and abdominal pain up front. Her health concerns would have flipped their decision 100%. “A reasonable person would be able to recollect the history of seeing their doctor for recurrent UTIs and abdominal pain,” she added.
Casey-Lee Peters posted on her Tik Tok about this experience, encouraging others to read the fine print on insurance policies. “Read the fine print… because I’m sure we’re all quite guilty of flicking through and yes, yes, no, no and answering the questions you need to, but there is always some sort of fine print that needs to be read in detail, and unfortunately, we didn’t,” she explained.
The ridiculous cancellation of her policy has left Peters worried about her family’s financial security if she were to die. “It means that my family’s not protected when I do pass away,” she said, emphasizing the practical implications of losing her life insurance in light of her terminal diagnosis.
A Call for Change
Although Casey-Lee Peters still is fighting cancer, she is committed to raising her voice about her experience. She tells her story with a fierce optimism. She wants to make sure that none of the other Australian women have to go through the same strife with their insurance policy.
Luke Peters, one of the homeowners, described his sense of betrayal at the way they have been treated by their insurance company. “I feel personally betrayed by how we’ve been dealt with,” he said. He emphasized the emotional weight of their situation, stating, “That’s what makes it so real and so heavy for us.”
The couple’s story serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of transparency and thoroughness in healthcare and insurance matters. Peters has a tough road ahead of him. Together, she and Luke are committed to creating transformative change in the industry that will better protect families facing life changing realities of critical health challenges.
