Washington insurer first to drop loophole, will pay for liver transplant

Seattle Times, March 28, 2008

Insurer Group Health Cooperative will change its policies and will pay for a Spokane, WA, man's life-saving liver transplant. The procedure had been initially denied on a technicality because the man was in the midst of a waiting period for organ-transplant coverage. The decision marks the first time a health-insurance company in Washington has officially revoked the controversial loophole. Critics have said the waiting period allows insurers to unfairly get out of expensive transplants for new members who had been covered under previous plans.