CW: Suicide
Kenney Blewett was diagnosed with lung disease more than a decade ago. Earlier this year, though, he began experiencing flare-ups which made him feel like he couldn’t breathe. His wife, Cindy, said Blewett described those flare-ups as “the scariest things in the world.” While the episodes only lasted a few minutes, they also increased in frequency.
In addition to Blewett being extremely short of breath after doing basic tasks like taking out the trash, he rarely left the house and recently lost 45 pounds. One doctor thought he might have cancer. To Cindy, it became apparent that the health issues Kenney had, which resulted from years of smoking, were getting worse.
So, on June 2, Blewett’s pulmonologist prescribed a new medication designed to alleviate his frightening symptoms. That prescription didn’t get filled right away, however. On June 4, Blewett received an email from Walgreens explaining that, “due to an insurance issue that we’re working to resolve,” the medication was delayed.
As the delay dragged on, frustration grew. Kenny was hopeful the medication would provide relief from the flare-ups that had increasingly disrupted his life. Days passed, and the prescription still wasn’t available. Blewett kept asking if the medication was ready for pickup, waiting for news that never came.
Cindy started contacting people involved in her husband’s care to get answers. What appeared to be a straightforward prescription soon became a confusing maze of insurance requirements, coverage questions, and administrative hurdles. It was difficult to figure out why the medication wasn’t approved, leaving the family with few clear answers while Blewett continued struggling with his worsening condition.
Kenney’s experience reflects a broader problem patients across the country encounter when trying to access care. Insurance reviews and prior authorization requirements can delay medications and treatments for days or even weeks. For people living with chronic illnesses, those delays can add another hurdle to an already difficult situation.
Insurance delays and denials have become an infamous part of the American healthcare system. A January KFF Health Tracking Poll found nearly 70% of adults described them as a major problem.
The consequences can be serious. A 2024 American Medical Association survey found that 94% of physicians said prior authorization delays necessary care. Nearly one in three reported that it had caused an adverse event for a patient in their care.
Meanwhile, Blewett’s health kept getting worse. He still had flare-ups, severe breathing problems, and his illness made life harder. Cindy said her husband’s declining health had already taken a big emotional toll. The uncertainty surrounding the medication only added another layer of stress during an already challenging period.
Blewett died by suicide on June 7, just days after the prescription was written. His death devastated his family. It left them searching for answers about what happened during the final week of his life.
While there’s no way to know whether receiving the medication sooner would have changed the outcome, Cindy believes the experience is a tragic reminder of the human cost of healthcare bureaucracy. Kenney’s story is a reminder that behind every delayed prescription is a person waiting for help, and a family hoping that help arrives in time.
Sources:
“AMA Survey Indicates Prior Authorization Wreaks Havoc on Patient Care.” American Medical Association, 18 June 2024, www.ama-assn.org/press-center/ama-press-releases/ama-survey-indicates-prior-authorization-wreaks-havoc-patient-care.
Sausser, Lauren. “Patient Dies by Suicide After ‘Insurance Issue’ Delayed Medicine for Lung Disease Flare-Ups.” KFF Health News, 2 Oct. 2026, https://kffhealthnews.org/health-industry/insurance-issue-delayed-copd-prescription-breathing-problems-suicide-texas/.