INDIANAPOLIS -- Derek Miles could be back on the kidney transplant list as early as next Wednesday.
Miles, a disabled Marine, worked as a supervisor for Carrier for 13 years. But when he went on Social Security disability following an extended sick leave, Carrier fired him, per company policy.
Miles received the termination notice February 24. The letter read, "We received notice that you were recently awarded Social Security disability benefits, therefore, effective February 29th your employment will be terminated."
Losing his job cost him his health insurance -- which then removed him from the transplant list, because Medicare only covers 80 percent of the procedure. Miles was not eligible to buy supplemental insurance because he was on dialysis and is not over the age of 65.
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Right now, the 65-year-old does at-home dialysis four times a day, seven days a week.
"It's hard than being a Marine, and the Marines is tough," Miles said.
Miles' son, who is in the U.S. Army now, requested a compassionate reassignment so he could be a living kidney donor for his father. But to do that, a surgery date needs to be set.
On March 23, IU Health sent Carrier a letter asking the company to re-consider its decision.
Call 6 Investigates reached out to IU Health about Miles' story. They said they're looking at a number of options, including coordinating with the VA hospital to cover some of Miles' expenses after the transplant.
Call 6 Investigates also reached out to Carrier the same day.
On May 3, the company told us that, due to HIPPA, it could not discuss Miles' health information.
But the next day, Miles sent Call 6 Investigates a text saying Carrier HR had reinstated his benefits.
A United Technologies executive issued a statement later that day about the decision:
"Our thoughts are with Mr. Miles and we will do everything we can to assist with this situation. His benefits have been reinstated and we have assigned him an experienced health advocate to help him navigate through the complex medical and insurance processes."
An IU Health spokesperson said late Friday that Miles will have to undergo a clinical evaluation on Monday. The soonest he could be placed back on the transplant list is May 11
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