KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Tracy Pierce is dying of cancer. He has insurance, but it won't pay for any of his care.

His wife, Julie, works at Saint Joseph Health Center. KMBC's Jim Flink reported her insurance plan is supposed to cover all his medical needs, but repeatedly, both the hospital and the insurance provider have rejected Pierce's claims, despite the fact his doctors pleaded with both to provide that life-saving care.

Pierce has kidney cancer.

"I don't know what else to do, but just wait," Pierce said.

He has already been waiting months for his wife's insurance provider to approve life-saving care. But each time First Health Coventry has said no, saying Pierce's care either is not a medical necessity or is experimental. This week, he was rejected again despite a 27-page appeal by his doctor.

"My husband is sick and needs a cure. But he's denied because of money," Julie Pierce said.

Julie Pierce said she has a drawer full of appeals and rejections. She's even petitioned her employer, Saint Joseph Health Center, pleading for help.

"And they look at you and tell you, 'Well, I'm sympathetic to your situation.' And I said, 'Well, your sympathy is not going to do me any good when I'm burying him next year," Julie Pierce said.

Saint Joseph Health Center is owned by Carondelet Health. On its Web site it says, "Our commitment to human dignity compels us to provide compassionate, quality health care for body, mind and spirit with a special concern for the poor. We are responsible stewards serving the needs of all people from conception to death."

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Julie Pierce said she used to believe that.

"They're basically killing him. They're allowing this to happen and they have the power to change it," Julie Pierce said.

Each month that Tracy Pierce waits, he gets worse, Flink reported. This week, he got his latest test results.

"He's got masses in both lungs," Julie Pierce said.

"Just get me some help. That's what I need. I need help," Tracy Pierce said.

Flink asked Saint Joseph's trustees why it has rejected Pierce's claims. They issued a statement saying, "Health plans cannot cover every medical procedure and remain affordable for plan participants. The Carondelet Health medical plan is a comprehensive plan that provides coverage for many illnesses, procedures and medications. Experimental, investigational treatments are excluded with the plan."

Tracy Pierce said he will continue to appeal.

Flink reported earlier this month that 2,000 local doctors are suing the metro's major insurance companies, alleging insurance companies are deciding patient care and not doctors. That lawsuit goes to court July 15.