Local woman diagnosed with cancer fights back against insurance company

SYLVANIA Ga. (WTOCS) - A woman diagnosed with cancer is both fighting for her life and fighting her insurance company.

She recently found out she’s on the hook for almost half a million dollars.

Rachel Williams is a mom of three and a former teacher who is a Sylvania native.

On December 13th 2021, she received a call that would change everything.

“I got the call that it was in fact cancer and tests would later show that it had spread to my liver and my bones,” said Williams.

Williams was diagnosed with stage four metastatic breast cancer.

She had to leave her teaching job to focus on her health and on the extensive treatments that would follow.

In 2025, she joined her husband’s insurance plan with Anthem.

“Before every one of my treatments they have to call and verify coverage before they can treat me because my treatments are over 30,000 dollars apiece,” said Williams.

Williams says she went through nine months of treatment under this insurance plan.

“We never once received anything, letting us know that there was something wrong,” said Williams.

Until she was informed her insurance could not cover one of her treatments.

When she called the company, they informed her she was missing her marriage license to be able to qualify under her husband’s plan.

Meaning, all her claims worth more than $400,000 have been reversed.

Williams says that without insurance, she can no longer be treated.

“Right now I am just relying on God to ensure that this does not spread,” said Williams.

Williams, her family, and friends have been reaching out to state representatives for help and have created a Go Fund Me to help pay for whatever they can.

They have been successful.

Since recording this interview, Williams tells WTOC that state representatives were able to help her get back onto her husband’s plan.

She says she is thankful for the resources she has but knows that not everyone who is in her position has the same.

“You should not be burdened to fight for your life and fight with your insurance companies at the same time and you should not have to go into financial ruin and deplete all of the savings you have ever had,” said Williams.

WTOC reached out to Anthem Health Insurance for a response on the situation and have not heard back yet.