Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is facing intense public scrutiny after allegedly denying coverage for essential heart surgery to a Nashville, Tennessee, woman who suffered multiple strokes. The patient, a TikTok creator known online as Babs (@babszszszsz), has thrust the American healthcare system back into the viral spotlight after sharing her ordeal online.
The medical crisis began in May 2026, when Babs started experiencing a series of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) and strokes. Her condition escalated dramatically on Aug. 15, when she was hospitalized following a stroke. While under direct medical supervision at the hospital, she suffered yet another stroke.
Medical evaluations revealed that Babs had a patent foramen ovale (PFO), a structural cardiac defect commonly referred to as a “hole in the heart.” According to the Mayo Clinic, a PFO occurs when a naturally occurring hole in a baby’s heart fails to close properly after birth.
The insurance’s reasoning left everyone stunned
While the condition is benign and asymptomatic for a large portion of the population, it can pose a serious health risk for others. Specifically, a PFO can allow blood clots to bypass the lungs’ filtration system and travel directly to the brain, potentially causing a stroke.
To prevent further brain damage or another potentially fatal stroke, Babs’ medical team recommended an urgent PFO closure procedure, a common operation valued at approximately $75,000.
Despite Babs’ documented history of consecutive strokes within a short period, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield allegedly refused to authorize coverage for the $75,000 procedure. Babs said the reasoning behind the denial left both her and her medical team stunned.
According to Babs, the insurance company based its decision on her age and the specific volume of bubbles observed during her echocardiogram. Using those metrics, the insurer determined that she was at “low risk” for another stroke — despite the fact that she had already suffered multiple strokes.
Faced with that bureaucratic wall, Babs shared the news with her TikTok followers. The video quickly exploded, amassing more than a million views, over 100,000 likes and thousands of angry comments.
One user wrote, “The USA is a bad, bad, bad place.” Another added, “Any Canadians watching this, this is why private health care will not create the results you are hoping for. I’m sorry you’re going through this.” Others shared sardonic photographs of Luigi Mangione.
With her health deteriorating and no administrative relief in sight, Babs turned to crowdsourcing to help cover the cost. The public, her loved ones and the hospital’s internal financial aid program ultimately came through for her.
Still, Babs remains angry about what she sees as a much larger problem with the healthcare system. “I’m just feeling fiery about my insurance and the scam it is,” she said.
This will only add to the criticism
Her story also draws parallels to another recent case involving UnitedHealthcare, which faced intense backlash after sending a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) denial letter addressed directly to a newborn twin. The letter infamously began, “Dear Baby Girl A.”
The use of algorithms and administrative metrics to determine whether patients receive potentially life-saving treatment has long faced criticism. Babs’ experience is likely to add another voice to those questioning whether an insurance system built around coverage can fulfill its purpose when patients are forced to fight for that coverage while they are already in the hospital.
Published: Aug 26, 2026 06:03 am