United Health Care
June 2015- Approximately 2.5 million people were treated for Lyme disease in the past 10 years (in the USA alone). In a handful of studies 3 people, yes THREE people, experienced the “more serious” complications while treating, according to United HealthCare.
According to United’s insurance policy this safety issue in part justifies not treating several million people because someone else might experience a complication. Quote below...
Safety
High rates of adverse events following long-term antibiotic therapy have been observed in the available studies. One study reported that diarrhea occurred more often following antibiotic therapy than placebo treatment (43% versus 25%), and another study reported that rash, diarrhea, and vaginal pruritus occurred more frequently after antibiotic treatment than placebo (14% versus 3%).
More serious, life-threatening complications were also reported in some individuals, including anaphylaxis in one patient (Krupp et al., 2003), life-threatening pulmonary embolism in one patient, and anemia accompanied by fever and gastrointestinal bleeding in one patient (Klempner et al., 2001; Hayes, 2010b; updated 2014).
United HealthCare Lyme Disease Policy- Updated November 2014