My mother's cancer odessey began after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The insurance company denied her claims and said she had a pre-exsting condition, so they would not cover her cancer treatments.

When I proved to them that she never had cancer, or anything more than a cold, prior, they relented, and reinstated the policy. She could not have surgery until they reinstated coverage, and she could have easily died in the meanwhile.

Then, they raised the premiums each month until she could no longer afford coverage. After being refused for coverage from 3 companies, I contacted the state Insurance Commisioner and was able to get her a high risk policy that capped benefits and coverage at a very low rate. She paid for most of her surgeries and chemo out of pocket.

She needed to have her chemo treatments in a closet at her oncologist's office because the hospital was too expensive. She nearly died after some of those treatments because she couldn't take care of herself at home. When she finally died of cancer, she was broke, living with me, and I was resposible for all of her care 24-7.

I feel bad for this man's family, and murder is wrong, but I can't muster any tears for him. I watched what the insurance companies did to my mother, and I still have nightmares about it.