The Sarkisyans Confront CIGNA on Daughter Nataline's Death

[JawsJaws]

Obamacare is raising my friend's healthcare by 150%

[JawsJaws]

@pluto4847 Dont put years on me. Im 43. and I apologize

[pluto4847]

@JawsJaws

Ok fair enough. Apology accepted. I will retract the response I gave to you.

Take care.

[edo878787]

this so sad man.I hate all those insurance companies, they are just here to make money, not to help people. if you need money, go make it, for that you need f**cking paper, not people's life. why are you playing with humans lives? if you did not give them their lives, why are you taking it from them? whoever is behind this, let him/her to know there is God , and one day you will get your punishment

[Ladiestreat]

Thank god for Christian conservatives who value human life so much that we get this Jesus like health care in America.

[IVISMiLESIVI]

The insurance companies and the gov't are one big corrupt ensemble.

[carlgt1]

as long as the US has moronic dittohead conservatives who will fight for the rights of CEO's over people; this is going to happen. look how quickly the insurance company lobbyists stifled health-care reform with (ironically) cries of "death panels" etc. When the truth (and this video) shows the "death panels" are already with us, well-funded, and powerful.

[MWhite1481]

CIGNA is full of heartless bastards!!

[CoolAnul]

big question WHY?????? bcuz as she said, they just make money n dont care about ppl's lives........they never understand n care about ppl's feelings and pains........i hate them!!!!!! they'll be punish one day

[abfab4tal]

doctors that are treating a patient should make the decision on the care of the patient not the insurance company that has never even examined the patient or met the patient for that matter....Our system sucks here in the USA!

[Ricebunnii]

Look ppl!!!! Everyone wants to just blame Cigna this and that. Insurance companies pulling this mess is nothing new. WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT IS THAT A YOUNG LADY DIED NOT B/C OF CIGNA BUT B/C HER DUMB MOM WAS TOO BZ MARCHIN AROUND TRYIN TO MAKE A STATEMENT INSTEAD OF TRYING TO WORK OUT A PAYMENT PLAN WITH THE DOCS/HOSPITALS!!!!!!!!! FUCK CIGNA!

[HemiHead66]

And now the Republicans want to put caps on damage - and pain and suffering compensation. Now after they destroy your life they want to leave ya broke on the side of the road too. Can you believe these dumb-ass Tea-Baggers are supporting these people? Totally fucking brain-dead. I say we create a list and give them everything they want. They can have it their way just like at Burger King. And once you sign - there's no making changes.

[selfcare2]

I'm no fan of insurance companies, but even if the insurer had been the gov't or non-profit, it is possible it would have still been denied. Obama was asked what he expected Americans to sacrifice in health care reform & he said we need to stop paying for things that don't work. As this case illustrates, where do you draw that line? And who is going to draw it? Mom in video said Natalie would have had a 65% chance of survival. But what if it were only 1/10, 1/100, 1/1,000..who is to decide?

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Hey selfcare2,

Nataline's doctors recommended a liver transplant. Cigna denied her this life-saving treatment. In so doing, Cigna's executives and stockholders made more money.

A not-for-profit agency or collective has no profit motive to kill a child.

Who would you trust to decide if your child lived or died: A group of doctors or a Cigna death panel?

What doesn't work is for-profit health insurance that sucks massive profits out of the health industry with for-profit death panels.

[Ricebunnii]

She should be blaming the docs/surgeons who let her die!!!!

[metalhead3767]

Yeah the doctors and surgeons should have paid out of their own pocket. Insurance companies should never pay for liver transplants. Its not their job.

[bluestems]

sorry, how is it "not Insurance companies' job to pay for liver transplants"?

I would think that this family paid their premiums for more than just being able to get a wellness checkup every year. If that was the case, they would have been better off saving the premiums and just paying the doctor directly. Insurance IS for things like this.

[Ricebunnii]

Something is not right about the mom...also, I know for a fact that hospitals and Dr.'s do have payment plans available if you have no insurance coverage to payfor treament or an operation. Yes, I do believe most insurance companies are full of shit but something about this story just doesn't add up...the mom is full of shit.

[bluestems]

Do you know how much is would have cost, what the down payment would have been? I don't know, but did hear about another woman who's insurance denied her breast cancer surgery just days before it was scheduled because she had acne once. The hospital wanted $30k downpayment which she couldn't afford so the surgery was cancelled. A year later, with pressure from a congressman, the insurance paid for her surgery which was more extensive at that time as the cancer spread.

[Starry2000]

"Yes, I do believe most insurance companies are full of shit but something about this story just doesn't add up"

What you are missing is that CIGNA approved the bone marrow transplant that made the liver transplant "experimental". They knew that she needed the liver transplant to survive before the B.M event. They did not mention that this would make her ineligible for a liver transplant.

The implication here being they took the quickest and cheapest way out of their obligations, and it worked

[billymotherhen2]

Many would say that this is one of the reasons why Obama's health care reform needs to be passed - because it saves lives, like that of Nataline Sarkisyans. I know there are a lot of intelligent people out there, and I want to know: What is your response to this?

[TheRosettaStoned]

Thats a tragic story. These companies, get away with things like that, because people dont vote correctly. People like you and me allow this to happen. The insurance company isnt really at fault. The ones at fault are the corrupt politicians that havent protected the public from companies like this. There are more of us "average" people than there are fat cats, yet they tell US what to do? If we use ONE word, we can stop this bullshit in a second. The word i NO. Every time a bill comes up, NO

[JediMasterRich]

Insurance companies don't CARE anymore than pharmaceutical companies "Care"!! The ONLY thing they "CARE" about is getting YOUR money and finding 10,000 reasons NOT to pay you. They could care LESS about this womans daughter or anyone elses. They're all part of the worldwide Eugenics programs like the drugs companies because they want to kill billions, so one person matters NOT!!. That's why the courts PROTECT the insurance and drug companies from lawsuits time and time again!! WAKE UP PEOPLE!!

[metalhead3767]

Health insurance companies should never be able to deny treatment. If this isn't a reason for socialized medicine I don't know what is.

[JediMasterRich]

YOUR response is EXACTLY what the progaganda machine, the media and those in control and power WANT you to say!! They're trying to show that capitalism, the so called "free market" and the current healthcare system "doesn't work" so they ALLOW people like this woman's child to die to create JUST SUCH AN UPROAR so that you'll get SO sick if the status quo that your mind will be OPEN to ANYTHING, even socialized medicine and communism because that's EXACTLY what they want to push in the US!!

[metalhead3767]

No. Its exactly what I want to say because every other first world country has socialized medicine. Insurance companies make more money when they deny treatment. They pull shit like this every day. This country didn't turn communist because of the schools, libraries, police, and fire departments being socialist. Stop being another delusional republican and realize theres some things that people shouldn't be making a profit off of.

[JediMasterRich]

Yes, they make more money... but the entire IDEA of insurance companies is all bull in the first place. I'm not a republican, democrat or anything, so I'm far from delusional or a republican! The police, fire dept. and schools are all being socialized already, especially the latter, It started with the federal reserve(central bank, rule #5 of the communist manifesto) then went to "free" education and not they want socialized medicine. Once everyone accepts that it's easier to get the rest thru

[Nullifidian]

JediMasterRich,

So Cigna was all set to cover Nataline's liver transplant when the omnipotent media stepped in to stop it so that she would die and create a national outcry? Have you always been this delusional or did you just practice hard to get to this level?

By the way, how many communists advertise in the pages of the NY Times? Chicago Sun-Times? LA Times? Washington Post? That's what the media cares about: advertising dollars. They get more of them from corporations than communists.

[JediMasterRich]

I didn't say anything about Cigna being set to cover it or the media stopping it. I said that insurance companies allow a certain number of people to die for the reasons stated not only to save money but as part of their worldwide programs mentioned. I read scores of books, do research, watch videos, alternative media, etd, I'm far from delusional. Those who think the media and their schools tell them the truth are the ones that are sadly deluded, learn who runs this world!

[Nullifidian]

JediMasterRich,

You claimed that the media was "trying to show" the flaws of capitalism and thus allowed "people like this woman's child to die". This would lead one to infer that the media rather than insurance companies are in control of health coverage.

Why would insurers want to destroy the system that put them in power? Making billions of dollars a year just isn't good enough?

So who does "run this world"? Please bring your expertise to bear and help all of us benighted people.

[JediMasterRich]

What runs this world are groups and secret societies that worship spirits and demons, the main ones being the Illuminati, Masons and the Synagogue of Satan. Read books such as "Pawns in the Game" and "Synagogue of Satan". Online check out "Secret Rulers of the World" "Endgame", "Freedom to Fascism" and "The Arrivals" to begin to see what's really going on. America has been compromised by these occult groups that have been around for centuries taking over and destroying nations from within.

[Nullifidian]

Sorry to everyone for the double post. I didn't know it got through on the first try.

[JulieRebu07]

THIS IS SO DISGUSTING HOW people in the usa cant have free helth care WTF WE GO AND INVADE OTHER COUNTRYES AND GO TO WAR BUT YET WE CANT FIX OUR OWN PROBLEMS HEREI N OUR COUNTRY this doesnt only happend to ppl but also soldiers that are consider property of the U.S. if they have cancer they wont be told that becaues they need them to work i really do hate what america its becoming

[bpdesigns4u]

The insurance company should not deceive people making them think they have full coverage when they don't. I feel sorry for those parents. Loosing a loved one is heartbreaking especially your child.

[haseo307]

this is fucked up it dosent matter wheter were rich or not if where poor or not poor we are all humans we are all people we are the same we disreve the right 2 get medi care and all that no matter the race or religon

[kingme99]

Pretty simple: either we deal with the profiteers like CIGNA or we deal with the government - and since the government will be non-profit, the choice is simple.

[SystemOnCrack]

so the company made a mistake, what do they want them to do about it? they just want to make money out if it... cashing in on your daughters life.. awesome

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Gee SystemOnCrack,

Cigna didn't make a mistake. They murdered Nataline on purpose. They delayed her treatment as long as they could knowing that any delay would be deadly. Cigna murdered her for money.

By the way, no one buys into your half-witted Fox News school-yard arguments. Trying to discredit Nataline's family won't fool anybody. You can't deflect the blame away from Cigna. You simply prove to the readers that you are a gutless apologist for corporate greed.

[treacheryofboredom]

does the fact that she wants an apology from the CEO mean anything? the fact that she was paying an insurance money means she can pay it and if she pays full coverage wouldn't you want to be fully covered? that's why they're paid for right?

[BHoz77]

This makes me want to move to Canada, where health insurance is FREE TO ALL CITIZENS. That's how it SHOULD be here in the U.S. I'm sick of money deciding people's lives. It's disgusting, despicable and disgraceful. This country should be ashamed of itself, and when I hear crap like this, is makes me ashamed to be an American.

[ChicanoLA]

BHoz77, you feel like many of us do!

[jakehubbb]

wow... we really need a public option now

[RobearBuddy]

This is such an uncivilized country. over 60000 Americans die needlessly each year because they can't access health care. This does not make headlines because Americans who have insurance don't want to change the system, why should they care ?. Lets keep on spending billions on kiling innocent people in oil rich countries and let die our own people at home in silence.

Obama said "Yes we can" but nothing has changed just like bush he lied to us

[GreenGearMood]

Dude. It doesn't happen that fast.

[MistaMagic52]

The company I used to work for had Cigna insurance. It was terrible. Honestly, every step working with them-from getting it set up onwards- was like pulling teeth and I wasn't even getting good coverage. Not many doctors around me took it or even HEARD of it either. Pretty sketchy.

[Hayaserforeveer]

i find this lil bit comical

i know about this family and their WEALTH

they live in Granada Hills, CA.

they ARE NOT poor

they live in a nice PHAT luxury home

they drive benz, bmw, and lexus

they have enough money they were sending her to private school (each semester $5k x 2 = 10k/yr)

this HILDA has so much money and connections and they acted as if they could NOT pay for their own daughters sugery/transplant

what is even more insulting is that HILDA is a very successful SCAM artist

[Hayaserforeveer]

what is even more insulting is that HILDA is a very successful SCAM artist, she is MAKING a good amount of money from her daughters death with all the influx of donations they are receiving that she does'nt even need to WORK real-estate anymore, she retired from it and now lives off of others' donations. so esentially she has much in common with CEO, they both making money from death

oh forgot to mention she holds an annual MERCEDES-BENZ runway modeling show to collect money for herself

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Gee Hayaserforeveer,

This is a typical Republican/Fox News tactic: If you have no rational ground upon which to argue your position, you make up lies and half-truths in order to discredit the opposition.

Nataline was denied a legitimate claim and that caused her death.

In what twisted, evil Fox News universe do you rationalize that a child should die in order to increase the executive bonuses for the CEO of Cigna?

You have no rational argument. You are just plain evil and rotten to the core.

[iloveravi]

What the fuck is wrong with americans?

Your insurance companies hate you. If you get sick and you need them they WILL NOT HELP. It is their POLICY to REJECT YOUR CLAIM.

Stop paying for insurance and save your fucking money.

Are you really this fucking out of touch?

God, I'm thankful I'm not a Yank.

[dipic7]

What the fuck is wrong with the teabagger Republicans who don't want health care reform is the better question.

And the answer is: They're fucking stupid.

[ChicanoLA]

Yes that's a better question...I love Americans...you know the intelligent, caring, compassionate, helpful, epithetic and honorable ones like me and so many others....its these racist, bitter, greedy, self-righteous, resentful Americans that just give the rest of us apples a rotten look! People really think this is an isolated incident? This is a shame and we should be ashamed of ourselves as a country and as human beings!

[dizziedanni123]

i agree!

[GreenGearMood]

Wow. Fuck you. Stop with the goddamn racism. It's ridiculous and it's 2009.

[iloveravi]

In what fucked up version of reality could anything I said be construed as Racist?

I'm assuming you are taking offense with my use of "Yank". I won't even begin to explain to your small mind that Yank refers to all Americans and is not intrinsically a derogatory term.

But instead I'll ask this...Do you consider the american people, the melting pot nation, to be a race unto itself?

Stop embarrassing yourself and stay quiet.

[GreenGearMood]

I don't even care about the use of yank. And what word do you want me to use? Is there another 6 letter word for what you're being? Enlighten me.

I look at "What the fuck is wrong with americans?"

And really? Stop. That generalizes everyone. EVERYONE. Quit being a dick. If I had a choice of living in Austrailia, I'd be there. But gosh, that doesn't stop me from being lumped in with the christian soccer moms and lard-ass skinhead deer hunters.

[iloveravi]

There is a difference between citizenship and race. I can't believe I need to explain that.

And no, you don't get to distance yourself from your country men.

Sorry, that's the way it is.

I know not all Americans are idiots. Many of my close friends are Yanks.

But you have the power to vote and as a whole you vote for stupid shit. So in my eyes, as a whole, you are a bunch of stupid dicks.

Feel free to prove me wrong.

I'd love to feel something other than disgust for americans.

[andwerver]

This is a dumb video. The security guards working there and the guy they spoke with of course aren't going to be helpful when they ambush them like this. The family was being a bunch of assholes.

[jadedmisanthropy]

CIGNA was being a bunch of assholes for not letting them speak with anyone who COULD be helpful, not to mention the rather unhelpful gesture of the man on the balcony.

[StylistecS]

You would be an asshole too if you came to question the people that you pay your insurance by denied your claim to stay alive. Why do I pay you for then? She is irate and she has every reason to be.

[utubesuxalotofazz]

Well, I understand the family's frustration with this company but this video hardly makes me care. We know zero facts about this girl other than that she died from liver failure. The mother constantly states "CIGNA killed my daughter", which is not true, an illness did, granted CIGNA obviously did not help but they didn't pull the tirgger, and if you really want change go to your congressman and get national healthcare. Can you really expect an insurance company to help?

[porkchop745]

They should march outside the CEO's house everyday.

[utubesuxalotofazz]

yeah, i am sure he would not care about people wandering by the gates to his mansion since he can probably take a chopper out to work.

[ChicanoLA]

Right!!!! That's the fucked up thing....its like we are all peasants and being told to eat cake but cant do anything about it cause these rich fucks have a big ass moat around them....well I am all for offing peoples heads! We need a peoples revolution!

[NoDeth]

i hope they all fucking die of cancer and get denied coverage based on a pre-existing condition

[roxgod666]

Your comment would mean something if somebody in this world gave a shit what you think.

[BentSlightly]

I used to do Medical Billing and Medical Collections, CIGNA was pathetic at paying their claims, constantly screwed over vendors. Most states have Commissioners of Insurance, I always wondered what the hell they did.

[jurgenpaulus]

In Germany ( staterun ) insurance is pretty much perfect!

[tcarper]

After reaching the 6-month milestone, the estimated median survival time was 22.2 years (95% CI 19.3-25.6 years), compared with about 29 years for the general population of the same age.

Funk CIGNA for calling this experimental. 6 months is a bad call... but 22 years isn't.

[LosAngelesWriter]

B-b-b-but Republican Virginia Foxx of North Carolina said that no one is refused health care in the U.S. Was the old white right winger lying through her teeth?

[bigvi]

If corporations want to pretend like they are people than they need to have the negatives as well. If you selfishly kill someone the people responsible (for the policy ex:Board Members) need to be charged with murder.

[bushputz]

We must ask ourselves -

Why do atrocities like this happen here?

Why is it illegal for health insurance companies to make a profit from primary care in EVERY OTHER country in the world?

Why do we pay twice as much for worse outcomes?

Why are we the only industrialized country with tens of millions of uninsured citizens?

Why.....?

[LLORT3]

That's fucked up.

I keep asking myself why I moved here from Canada. Oh well, at least it's warmer here.

[maxx1000]

SINGLE PAYER covers more for less!

[maxx1000]

Insurance Companies = DEATH PANELS

[dingysd]

ALL "insurance" is a scam. Stop paying for it and it will go away. Hospitals and doctors will be forced to treat you anyway, and accept cash in payments. Insurance is the number one cause of the high costs of health care. Tell your elected representatives you will never vote for them again if they take one cent of bribe money from the insurance industry.

[jaani1984]

Not everywhere. At least here in Finland insurance works.

[IA5208]

God...this is so disgusting. Why is it that the high and mighty CEOs don't have to deal with any of the shit they put people through? Chances are he was out golfing with his corporate buddies that day. Makes me sick And 73 million dollars a year? I'm sorry, but that is just criminal...can somebody tell me why this isn't illegal?

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Hi IA5208,

Negligent homicide by fraud is illegal everywhere except in Los Angeles County where we have gutless politicians instead of public servants.

I suggest that Nataline's supporters contact the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Steve Cooley, and demand that criminal charges be filed.

[ForzaPilot]

Simply embarassing, and to think that the world will see this and feel justified in their opinions Americans are heartless.

A lot of the comments here are also in very bad taste. A young girl died - have some respect!

[H0VEN]

Ed Hanway is a coward

[Destin65]

No surprise here, I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and they have denied paying for some of my treatments. They also tell me what doctors I can and can't see They tell me what treatments I can and can't get. They also tell me what they will and won't pay for. What's the point of having insurance if you can't use it? It's all one big joke, one big scam. And the fleecing of America by the corporatists and capitalists continues.

[ronbotex]

Do you people really believe that Obama Care will cover transplants on demand? If so you are deluded.

[dayglowgreendoor]

RONBOTEX, you're a douche. A Reicht Wing douche. No health plan run by anyone rational (and not deluded by profit-taking like CIGNA) would deny a request by "four leading physicians, including the surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at UCLA". I slapped a birther teabagger about a week ago. Slapped the girlyboy until he cried. It was PRICELESS. I was hoping the teabagger had a gun, cuz I could use a new gun. The girlyboy teabagger cried like a little girl.

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Gee ronbotox,

First, Obama Care, as you put it, simply creates competition for the lawless health insurance monopoly that exists today. So, you will still be free to pay more money to Cigna and watch them murder your children.

Second, you watch too much Fox News. Fox News is owned by a foreign national who has a long history of sowing the seeds of sedition and treason in the interests of foreign-owned corporations.

You are what you watch and in this case it is you who is deluded.

[ronbotex]

Are transplants covered by her policy? Are they specifically excluded? Lots of emotion in the video but it would be useful to know facts.

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Gee ronbotox,

If you didn't insulate yourself from facts by watching only Fox News you would know that Nataline's policy did cover liver transplants. Cigna reneged on her policy knowing that they would be protected by the ERISA legislation which had been enacted by a previous Republican congress and the infamous liar Richard Nixon in 1974.

I would suggest that you find a more reliable source of information than Fox News.

[ProudAnselmo]

She clearly stated that she had full coverage, idiot.

[ttmfg]

The private sector has totally failed at providing health care. It is AWFUL. A public option will not be for profit, it will be for CARE. Medicare is an excellent government program. Medicare for all.

[ronbotex]

People are deluded if they think government won't deny treatment, especially expensive treatment like a transplant much MORE FREQUENTLY than private insurance companies.

In a recent survey of doctors, Medicare denied more claims than ANY private insurance company. If you think a corporation is lacking in compassion, see what happens when the government controls healthcare, The overall quality of care will go DOWN when the politicians take over a system they know nothing about.

[dayglowgreendoor]

Yeah right! Or maybe REICHT! Go do some slowgun chants to your Sarah Palin doll. I'm sick of you reicht wing dirtbags sticking up for the corporate criminals. I highly doubt that Medicaid would have denied an appeal from "four leading physicians, including the surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at UCLA". The truth sucks for you dirtbag teabagging neanderthal white trash REpubliCant dirtbags.

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Gee ronbotox,

Who makes up your 'facts' for you? Fox News?

There was no "recent survey of doctors." Fox News made that 'factoid' up using a panel of their own so-called doctors, bought a paid for with health insurance advertising dollars.

Everything you 'know', or speculate about, or have heard on Fox News is a lie. Fox News is owned by a notorious liar, Rupert Murdoch, who has a long history of publishing any lie that money can buy.

And, yes. Quit teabaggin' that blow-up Sarah Palin doll.

[agrajag46]

It's pretty sick how some indecisive, unfeeling corporate bureaucrat led to this death.

[indirajane]

R.I.P., Nataline.

CIGNA is a truly vile company.

[atripa645]

This is what capitalism is all about. The profit is like a drug to these people. Like a meth addict they don't care what they have to do to get it.

[criticaljimmk]

disgusting what the insurance companies can do, i fail to see why this industry deserves our respect or our money

[lankyFool]

I will never get a policy from CIGNA. What scumbags they are.

[cinesimonj]

@3.01

Did that communication whore say 'I know exactly how you feel"?

Just unbelievable.

[darkcarnivaldesign]

Ohhh...i thought we had "THE BEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD"...right? Who needs reform? As long as the corporations keep making tons of profits, why change anything in "THE BEST HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN THE WORLD"?

[mhirtes12]

What absolute, inhuman monsters these CIGNA goons are! This is not just mere greed. They are literally WANTING to murder as many people as they can get away with.

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Let's say a manufacturer who makes smoke detectors left out a critical part in order to save money and increase profits. The executives who knowingly sold those defective smoke detectors would be indicted for negligent homicide.

I suggest that Nataline's supporters contact the Los Angeles County District Attorney, Steve Cooley, and demand that criminal charges be filed.

[Mickey1Art]

We all need to drop our coverage to make them listen. No checks in the mail is the only way to get them to listen.

[JoeinWashDC]

Chop your nose off to spite your face?

If I dropped my insurance....I wouldn't have health insurance. Does that make any sense? NO!

[Mickey1Art]

It makes sense if you are a patriot. We need to risk our lives to save the citizens of this country from the selfish and the greedy. If we can't stop the pillaging of our country with a non violent protest a time will come when the mobs will use a violent method.

[ChicanoLA]

a la Marie Antoinette

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Well, JoeinWashDC,

That's exactly why we need a public option -- so the current lawless health insurance monopoly that exists today has some competition. If there were competition in health insurance, we could all choose to turn our backs to the private insurance industry when they murder our children.

The Republican Party has done everything it can to do away with free-market competition.

Without free-market competition, America is becoming a Republican gangster version of communist Russia.

[ttmfg]

The fact that Cigna sent a tool down to talk down to them says it all. "I don't know about your particular situation," when they just told him the situation. The individual "situation" and the "facts of the case," are all litigation ideas. But then again, the insurance industry is in an adversarial role with their customers now. THAT is the real SITUATION.

[alisoninrome]

JHeroes, the reason the family has no case against Cigna is NOT that CIgna was in the right. It is that Employer funded plans are protected under "ERISA" and that means that even when insurance malpractice takes place, there isn't a damn thing that can be done legally. In the case of a 17 year old girl with a 65% chance, they should have made a different decision. In the end, they did approve it, so it was possible for them to do so. They just did it too late to help her.

[EmanuelWazar]

You being an executive, would you pass on the expense of a treatment for you dieing daughter however vainly and improbably to save her life?

No.

But someone else's life can be placed at the losing end of a expense budget to make money for a company.

Oh. Because you, CIGNA, can, and the people cant.

Insurance is the buisness of people never getting sick, and if they do, to offer as little in return as is possible to avoid wild mobs lynching executives dead in the streets.

Come the day.

[dayglowgreendoor]

They should shoot the CEO, but I'm sure he's got huge security to keep his customers from killing him. Only in AmeriCant.

[artvandelay3911]

That and the best insurance coverage possible.

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Hey dayglowgreendoor,

I'm sure there are a lot of victims of health insurance fraud who feel the same way you do. I know I would be very angry if I or one of my extended family members was sentenced to death in order to increase the already enormous bonuses for health insurance executives. But, with perhaps the exception of some terminally ill health insurance victims, tracking down health insurance executives and exacting revenge will not sublimate anybody's anger.

[Solange822001]

If this was my child, I would have done this and worse. I would be in jail now. The CEO of that company, and the employees who made those obscene gestures deserve to be treated like the animals that they are. HEALTH CARE SHOULD BE ABOUT LIVES, NOT PROFIT. PERIOD. END OF STORY

[dayglowgreendoor]

Not that I believe it is in any way appropriate to hunt down the CEO or other executives of CIGNA, but I can certainly understand why such surgery could have a definite positive affect upon society. There are a number of CEO's and executives who should be hunted down and executed simply because they represent a menace to society. Killing off the worst would show that society can deal with murderers and the most corrupt. I'm not a proponent of this vengeance, but not by much.

[Mickey1Art]

US Attorney General Eric Holder needs to hunt them down.

[jackback25]

your daughter had multiple organ failure due to the failed bone marrow transplant, a liver wouldn't have saved her life because she still faced the rejection from the bone marrow transplant.

you played high risk, high reward with your daughter's life and lost, move on

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Gee Jackback25,

You are not a doctor. You have no first-hand knowledge of this case. Yet, you seem intent upon defending Cigna's criminal actions at all costs. Further, you seem to be making up facts in support of that effort. In what twisted, evil universe do you rationalize betting health insurance profits against the life of a child?

Are you on one of the Republican supported health insurance death panels?

[jackback25]

nope, just a UCLA transplant patient myself going on 9 years with someone else's organ in me. I've seen friends die waiting for an organ and others die due to acute rejection . what happened to her was acute rejection of the bone marrow transplant causing her to have graft vs host disease. Thats why her liver & kidneys had failed. kidneys, you can do dialysis unfortunately there is to artificial treatment for liver failure.

[UcvbnBjfyuvs]

Gee jackback25,

So, you are not a doctor. Yet, two real doctors who were familiar with Nataline's case recommended a liver transplant. In what twisted, evil universe do you suggest that some children should be left to die because a cost-benefit analysis says corporate profits might be impacted?

No, you're right. Health insurance companies don't have death panels. They have one disgruntled bureaucrat with a big rubber stamp that says 'DIE' in blood-red ink.

[RepublicanTorture]

How did they play? I don't understand.

[maxx1000]

Bill Frist, MUCH?

[budorman]

I feel for this family and hope they help the cause of many people who will die like this

insurance companies are murderers now, for sure and america need to wake up to this corporate scheme that kills off decent innocent folks

thanks for this post!

you have our support!

[HerrBismarck]

Sorry, should have been more specific. Look at the video response (there's only one). In it, the mother is talking to a news agent and showing her the coverage. The news agent says that the policy did cover the procedure (its at 1:20).

[HerrBismarck]

Actually, she did. Her coverage did cover liver transplant.

[Ravenswyck]

Don't post hateful drivel if you don't like being insulted. That family paid their premiums, Cigna took their money and they refused to pay.

If you're not a Cigna employee, you should apply. That's they very attitude they are looking for in an employee who denies coverage and goes home at night and sleeps like a baby.

You'll get old and/or sick one day and you'll find out what it is like to have your coverage denied.

[Ravenswyck]

How DARE you post here with your ignorance. That comment was so assenine that I can only assume that you are a CIGNA employee involved in denying her. What goes around comes around. DON'T EVER, EVER get sick. You will find out exactly how much your life is worth to CIGNA....it is worth ZERO. I hope you NEVER have a sick child who can be denied coverage with a rubber stamp. Shame on you.

[thebangkokfive]

We cannot have let her die in vein, do not forget this girl. She is a martyr, a symbol of the war we are in against big money and a Republican party hell bent on doing everything possible, including fear mongering, lying, etc. to make sure we lose this fight. DO NOT FORGET THIS GIRL.

[boredjoewo]

The mother said they had full coverage as well in the middle of this video.

[boredjoewo]

The point is that Americans do not have Universal Health Care. That is why this girl died...which is criminal and YES this and every other insurance company is responsible for this girl's death. If your elected representative is against Universal Health Care and Single Payer which would reduce costs...those lawmakers are responsible for her death as well. Just criminal!