TLDR: The insurance company has a new policy, set to take effect in February 2025, where they decide how much anesthesia is needed for surgeries. They won’t pay for any anesthesia over that, with exemptions for maternity and pediatric cases and for Connecticut providers.
The article also notes the insurance company reported a $2.3 billion net income increase in June 2024.
Edit to update: Anthem now says they won’t put this policy into effect
They aren’t saying you won’t get anesthesia. That would be wrong.
You just have to pay the bill when you wake up.
You’re assuming doctors will make their decisions based on the legitimate medical needs of their patients.
But hospital policies are often chosen for other reasons, such as ensuring all bills get paid in full, and no lawsuits are filed by anyone who has enough lawyers to win.
Those policies can put a doctor’s employment and/or license in jeopardy.
Doctors are already choosing to let women die rather than get in trouble for doing medically necessary abortions.
Will they cut anesthesia short and hope they can finish sewing in time? Unlikely, but not nonzero.