TLDR: The insurance company has a new policy, set to take effect in February 2025, where they decide how much anesthesia is needed for surgeries. They won’t pay for any anesthesia over that, with exemptions for maternity and pediatric cases and for Connecticut providers.
The article also notes the insurance company reported a $2.3 billion net income increase in June 2024.
Edit to update: Anthem now says they won’t put this policy into effect
Exactly, like how redheads need more anesthesia
Real answer? Who knows
Cynical answer? However low their lawyers told them they could get away with without being liable
I remember some jokes around it being about cell receptiveness. Like their receptors don’t react to taking pigment the same way they don’t react to the anesthesia as well. If so, it would likely be a genetic trait, so the more natural red heads that have extremely low pigment may require more anesthesia to keep them under. But I’m no doctor, and most of those jokes had to do with their soul not being around to pick up the call 🤷.