Health insurer, Bupa, makes call on single mum Ashley Evans fate

Young mum Ashley Evans was told by her insurer they wouldn’t cover vital surgery after the discovery of a huge ovarian mass until she received an email.

Ashley Evans was fighting with her health insurance company after they refused to cover vital surgery to remove an orange-size mass on her right ovary. Picture: Supplied

Single mum Ashley Evans, who was embroiled in a health insurance battle, has learnt her fate.

After discovering an orange-sized lump on her ovary in November 2023, the 26-year-old asked her health insurance to cover the vital surgery she needed to remove it — only she was denied.

Ms Evans said her insurance company, Bupa, said her condition was classified as a pre-existing condition and therefore the surgery did not meet the eligibility requirements.

Ms Evans said it wasn’t.

Following The Advertiser’s inquiries Ms Evans has received an email from Bupa stating they will cover her surgery after all.

“It was a relief,” the mum-of-one told The Advertiser.

“I felt overwhelmed, but also overjoyed that I finally had some good news. I am hoping this is the start to a road of recovery and I can finally get back to some normality again.”

Single mum, Ashley Evans was told she has an ovarian mass in November 2023. Picture: Keryn Stevens

The email stated that Bupa determined Ms Evans’ condition was pre-existing as per the Private Health Insurance Act “as being those where signs of symptoms were present during the six-month period prior to joining or upgrading your cover”.

“While the determination to deem this condition as pre-existing has not changed, after further review of this matter we have identified we could have done more to help provide further information to you when you lodged your complaint,” it read.

“We have agreed to extend the offer to pay a benefit towards your hospital admission for treatment of an ovarian mass as a special consideration.”

Ashley will now he able to remove the mass on her ovary thanks to Bupa approving her claim. Picture: Supplied

Ashley has closed the GoFundMe made to raise money for her surgery and refunds will be issued to those who donated. Picture: Supplied

The GoFundMe created to raise funds for Ms Evans’ surgery has since been closed and refunds will be issued to those who donated.

Ms Evans, who is a single mum to six-year-old Charlotte, lived with debilitating pain from the growing mass.

“It has been scary … I’ve had some days where I’ve fainted at work, I just push through the pain,” she said.

“I never know when I’m gonna stop feeling dizzy … I can’t eat a lot because if I eat a lot it (the mass) puts too much pressure on my stomach and the pain gets worse.

“I went from 65 kilos to 42 in a month.”

Her pain is made more traumatising by the fact she recently recovered from cervical cancer only months before.