Few people appeal rejected medical claims. It’s often worth it. - Apple News Today

Summary

Apple News Today - Episode Summary

Title: Few People Appeal Rejected Medical Claims. It’s Often Worth It
Host: Shemitah Basu
Release Date: February 20, 2025

1. U.S. President Donald Trump’s Controversial Remarks on Ukraine Conflict

Timestamp: 00:05 - 02:27

In the episode's opening segment, Shemitah Basu discusses President Donald Trump's surprising assertion that Ukraine is partly to blame for the ongoing conflict with Russia. Speaking during a press conference on February 20, 2025, Trump claimed responsibility for not ending the war earlier, stating, “Three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal for Ukraine that would have given him almost all of the land” [01:07]. This rhetoric has further strained relations between the U.S., NATO allies, and Ukraine, especially as both Ukraine and NATO officials were already dismayed by their exclusion from recent peace negotiations held in Saudi Arabia.

President Trump's comments included an incorrect statement about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's domestic approval rating, falsely citing it at 4%, whereas recent polls indicate it stands above 50%. In response, President Zelenskyy accused Trump of echoing Kremlin propaganda, stating, “We understand that it is coming from Russia... unfortunately lives in this disinformation” [02:06].

Furthermore, retired General Keith Kellogg, Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia, arrived in Kyiv to engage with Zelenskyy, aiming to understand Ukraine's needs for peace talks with Russia. Concurrently, NATO convened its second emergency meeting of the week, addressing challenges to the alliance's foundational principles established in 1949, amid growing doubts about U.S. leadership among European members.

2. Legal Turmoil Surrounding New York City Mayor Eric Adams

Timestamp: 02:27 - 07:18

Shemitah Basu shifts focus to New York City Mayor Eric Adams, who remains in his position despite mounting calls for his resignation following the Department of Justice (DOJ) decision to drop federal corruption charges against him. Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Beauvais justified the DOJ's withdrawal by alleging that the prosecution was politicized and that the case was a distraction from Adams' duties, including cooperation with former President Trump's immigration policies [02:27].

The DOJ's unusual courtroom strategy, with Beauvais appearing alone without support from lower-level prosecutors, has sparked significant backlash. Notably, eight DOJ veterans and most of the Public Integrity Division's senior leadership have resigned in protest. Concurrently, Adams faces internal turmoil, evidenced by the resignation of four top deputies from his administration.

Katie Honan, a senior reporter for City, an online news outlet covering New York, provides insights into the unprecedented nature of the situation. She explains that Governor Kathy Hochul possesses the authority to remove Adams under the state charter and is considering this option. Additionally, the City Council can form an “Inability Committee” — a novel and never-before-utilized body — to potentially oust the mayor [05:41 - 06:21].

Honan attributes Adams' reluctance to resign to his political ties with President Trump, who is actively seeking to have the charges dropped to maintain his influence in New York City politics. With Mayoral primaries scheduled for June and the general election in November, Adams has hinted at the possibility of switching parties to run as a Republican if he remains in office. Honan remains cautiously optimistic about Adams' political viability, noting his effective campaigning and relatable messaging, which resonates with many voters [06:34 - 07:18].

3. The Importance of Appealing Denied Health Insurance Claims

Timestamp: 07:18 - 10:44

A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to the often-overlooked process of appealing denied health insurance claims. Basu highlights that while health insurers process over 5 billion claims annually, approximately 17% are denied, equating to around $850 million each year. Despite less than 1% of patients appealing these denials, research indicates a high success rate of about 75% for those who do [07:18 - 08:07].

Julie Wernow from the Wall Street Journal elaborates on the barriers preventing individuals from appealing denied claims. These include feelings of futility, intimidating paperwork, misplaced trust in insurers' decisions, and the overwhelming stress associated with medical issues [08:01 - 08:29]. Wernow shares the poignant story of Emily Beck, a young girl who developed an inflammatory brain disease following a COVID-19 infection. Her family's struggle to secure coverage for a necessary and costly infusion therapy underscores the emotional and financial burdens faced by many [08:29 - 10:25].

Through persistent appeals and comprehensive documentation from healthcare providers, the Beck family ultimately succeeded in obtaining the necessary treatment from UnitedHealthcare, a victory that brought immense relief and hope [09:49 - 10:25]. Wernow offers practical tips for those considering an appeal: thoroughly research insurance coverage, meticulously document all communications, and act swiftly to meet appeal deadlines [10:25 - 10:44].

4. Additional News Highlights

Timestamp: 10:44 - 12:15

Shemitah Basu briefly touches on several other pressing news stories:

Hostage Remains Returned by Hamas: Hamas returned the bodies of four hostages, including young children and the elderly, as part of an accelerated exchange with Israel. This follows the earlier release of their husband and father, Yarden Bibas [11:16 - 12:15].
Immigration Updates: New ICE data reveals that 41% of detentions under the Trump administration involve individuals without criminal convictions or pending charges. Additionally, the administration has ceased a program providing legal representation to nearly 26,000 immigrant children, many of whom are unaccompanied or lack legal guardians [12:15].
Hockey Championship Rematch: The United States and Canada prepare for a rematch in the four nations Face Off Tournament after a chaotic initial game marked by multiple fights. The Athletic provides analysis and predictions for the championship showdown [12:15].

5. Upcoming Features and Conclusion

Timestamp: 12:15 - End

Basu concludes the episode by promoting upcoming content available on the Apple News app, including a narrated article from The Atlantic examining the significant social shift of reduced interstate and intracity migration among Americans over the past fifty years. She encourages listeners to stay tuned for future episodes and additional stories [12:15 - End].

Key Takeaways

Trump's Blame on Ukraine: President Trump's recent remarks have exacerbated tensions between the U.S., Ukraine, and NATO allies, with significant implications for international relations and peace negotiations.
Mayor Adams' Legal Crisis: New York City's Mayor Eric Adams faces unprecedented political and legal challenges following the DOJ's controversial decision to drop corruption charges, leading to significant administrative resignations and potential removal from office.
Health Insurance Appeals: Despite high success rates, the vast majority of denied health insurance claims go unappealed due to emotional, logistical, and informational barriers. Persistent appeals can lead to favorable outcomes, as demonstrated by the Beck family's experience.
Broader News Coverage: The episode also provides updates on international hostage situations, immigration policy changes, and upcoming sports events, ensuring listeners are well-informed on a variety of critical issues.

For more detailed reporting and additional stories, listeners are encouraged to visit the Apple News app and explore the latest articles and features.

Transcript

Shemitah Basu (0:05)

Good morning. It's Thursday, February 20th. I'm Shemitah Basu. This is Apple News Today. On today's show, a couple ways New York City Mayor Eric Adams could lose his job. Why it's worth your time to fight a denied health insurance claim. And in hockey, the United States and Canada, fresh off last weekend's brawl, face off again tonight. But first, almost three years to the day after Russian tanks first invaded Ukraine, President Trump shocked Ukraine and European allies by blaming Ukraine for the war, further straining relations between the US and its NATO and Ukrainian allies. Remember, Ukraine and members of the NATO alliance were already upset that Russia and the United States excluded them from peace negotiations in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday after. And Trump's lie about how the war started came during a press conference Tuesday evening in response to a reporter's question about how those talks went.

Donald Trump (1:07)

Here's the president and I think it's going very well. But today I heard, oh well, we weren't invited. Well, you've been there for three years. You should have ended it. Three years. You should have never started it. You could have made a deal. I could have made a deal for Ukraine that would have given him almost all of the land.

Shemitah Basu (1:24)

The war began in February of 2022 when Russia launched a full scale invasion of Ukraine from three sides with troops, tanks and airstrikes targeting cities, military bases, schools and hospitals. Tens of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes. It was the biggest attack on a European nation since World War II. In Tuesday's press conference, Trump also incorrectly claimed President Zelensky has a 4% domestic approval rating. According to polling from this month, Zelenskyy's approval rating is above 50%. And Zelensky, in response to Trump's comments, accused the president of parroting talking points from the Kremlin.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy (2:06)

Since we are talking about 4%, we have seen this disinformation. We understand that it is coming from Russia. We understand and we have evidence that these numbers are being discussed between America and Russia. It is unfortunate that President Trump, and with great respect for him as the leader of the American people who constantly support us, unfortunately lives in this disinformation.

Shemitah Basu (2:27)

Space during Tuesday's press conference and on social media. In response to that comment from Zelenskyy, you just heard Trump called Zelenskyy a dictator and suggested the Ukrainian president should not be in power. Elections in Ukraine were supposed to happen in 2024, but they've been suspended during wartime under martial law. A survey of Ukrainians conducted last year found 70% of people supported allowing Zelenskyy to remain in power until martial law is lifted, and Zelenskyy's administration has said it plans to hold elections immediately after the war has ended. Trump's envoy for Ukraine and Russia, retired general Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kyiv on Wednesday to meet with Zelenskyy. He told reporters upon arrival that part of his mission will be to listen to what Zelenskyy wants from U s. Russia peace talks Meanwhile, members of NATO held their second emergency meeting this week on Wednesday, this time including nations that were not at the previous meeting to discuss how to recalibrate their relationship with the United States. The Wall Street Journal reports that this moment feels particularly difficult for European members of NATO to navigate. NATO was created in 1949 as a way for the United States to support the rebuilding of Europe after the Second World War. At the time, the US viewed an economically and militarily strong Europe as crucial to prevent preventing communist expansion across the continent. Now, it seems the premise of that alliance is being tested and European leaders are questioning the US's leadership in a new way. New York City Mayor Eric Adams still has a job for now. There's been a lot of talk about whether the mayor will volunteer to step down or if he'll be forced out. All of this after a wave of criticism following the DOJ's move to drop federal corruption charges against Adams, charges he pleaded not guilty to. Yesterday, the acting deputy attorney general, Emil Beauvais, appeared in court before a federal judge to justify why the DOJ was asking to drop the case. Adams was there, too. Bove said the move to drop the charges was not based on the strength of the evidence, that the prosecution was politicized and tainted it and he said the case was distracting the mayor from doing his job, which he wrote in an earlier memo included cooperating with Trump's immigration enforcement plans. The judge did not issue an immediate ruling leaving the charges in place for now. The Washington Post describes it as highly unusual for a senior department official like Bove to personally argue a case in court and to do it alone without the assistance of lower level prosecutors. But since Bove ordered the dismissal of Adams case, eight veterans of the department resigned in protest, as did most of the senior leadership of the DOJ's Public Integrity Division. Meanwhile, for Adams, this case and the suggested quid pro quo behind dropping it led to the resignations of four top deputies in his administration this week. There have been numerous calls for Adams to resign, which he has so far refused to do, and calls for governor Kathy Hochul to remove him from office.