Hope the family wins their lawsuit against the heartless bastards. Can we PLEASE have single payer coverage and end the madness in this country?
Sadly this denial of coverage happens every day for hundreds of people. And that’s for those of us lucky enough to even have insurance. All so these asshat CEOs can make their millions.
Teen dies after transplant funds nixed – Yahoo! News
– A 17-year old died just hours after her health insurance company reversed its decision not to pay for a liver transplant that doctors said the girl needed.
Nataline Sarkisyan died Thursday night at about 6 p.m. at University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. She had been in a vegetative state for weeks, said her mother, Hilda.
“She passed away, and the insurance (company) is responsible for this,” she said.
Nataline had been battling leukemia and received a bone marrow transplant from her brother. She developed a complication, however, that caused her liver to fail.
Doctors at UCLA determined she needed a transplant and sent a letter to CIGNA Healthcare on Dec. 11. The Philadelphia-based health insurance company denied payment for the transplant.
On Thursday, about 150 teenagers and nurses protested outside CIGNA’s office in Glendale. As the protesters rallied, the company reversed its decision and said it would approve the transplant.
Despite the reversal, CIGNA said in an e-mail statement before she died that there was a lack of medical evidence showing the procedure would work in Nataline’s case.
“Our hearts go out to Nataline and her family, as they endure this terrible ordeal,” the company said. ” … CIGNA HealthCare has decided to make an exception in this rare and unusual case and we will provide coverage should she proceed with the requested liver transplant.”
Officials with CIGNA could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday night.
One Response
He makes 13.5 million to be exact. I Googled it when I first read the story. Sick, I know. I hope that he can sleep peacefully tonight in his mansion because I am sure Nataline’s family will not. Hail the allmighty dollar!