Insurance companies have lawyers. Patients have stories.

Why We Created This Site

Patients Over Policies was founded from a deeply personal journey through cancer and a lifelong commitment to patient advocacy. As a two-time cancer survivor and oncology nurse, I have experienced the healthcare system from both sides of the exam room—first as a patient fighting for my life, and later as the nurse helping others fight for theirs.

I know what it feels like to hear the words, "You have cancer." I know the anxiety of waiting for insurance approvals while treatment hangs in the balance. I understand the frustration of prior authorizations, unexpected claim denials, delayed medications, and the emotional, physical, and financial toll that administrative barriers can place on patients and their families.

Those experiences changed the course of my life. They inspired me to become an oncology nurse so I could advocate for patients facing many of the same challenges I once endured. Every day, I witness the courage of patients navigating serious illness while also struggling through a complex insurance system that can delay medically necessary care. Too often, I have seen patients forced to postpone treatment, change therapies, or spend countless hours appealing decisions made far from the bedside.

That is why I created Patients Over Policies.

Patients Over Policies is an independent public archive of patient stories documenting health insurance claim denials, prior authorization barriers, coverage delays, and other administrative obstacles that patients report have affected their healthcare across the United States. Every story represents a real person whose experience deserves to be heard and whose voice deserves a place in the broader conversation about healthcare reform.

We are not affiliated with any insurance company, political party, lobbying organization, or healthcare corporation. We accept no advertising, sponsorships, or financial support from organizations that profit from health insurance decisions. Our mission is guided by one principle: to preserve and amplify the voices of patients.

The stories published on this website are submitted by individuals who represent them as truthful accounts of their own experiences. While we cannot independently verify every detail of every submission, we take reasonable steps to protect each contributor's privacy. Stories may be edited to remove personally identifying information, unnecessary identifying details, or content that could create legal or privacy concerns, while preserving the substance and integrity of the individual's experience.

The purpose of this archive is not to assign blame or target specific individuals or organizations. Rather, it is to document the human impact of insurance denials, prior authorization delays, coverage obstacles, and other administrative barriers that affect patient care. By preserving these experiences in one place, we hope to increase public awareness, support research and journalism, inform policymakers, and ensure that the patient perspective remains central to discussions about improving our healthcare system.

This website is more than a collection of stories—it is a growing record of lived experiences, a community built on empathy, and a reminder that behind every prior authorization, denied claim, or delayed treatment is a person waiting for care.

Because healthcare decisions should never lose sight of the people they affect. Patients should always come before policies.