I am pissed. What kind of people work for the murder by spreadsheet industry? I guess denying claims day after day, knowing people will suffer, and in some cases, even die, dehumanizes them. But this story is amazing:
Surrounded by supporters, Hilda Sarkisyan marched into Cigna Corp.’s Philadelphia headquarters on a chilly fall day, 10 months after the company refused to pay for a liver transplant for her daughter.
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Cigna employees, looking down into the atrium lobby from a balcony above, began heckling her, she said, with one of them giving her "the finger."
LA Times:
You may remember the death of Nataline Sarkisyan. She was 17 years old; her parents had insurance on her, but CIGNA denied coverage of a life saving tranplant.
Nataline Sarkisyan died last night at UCLA Medical Center after complications arose from a bone marrow transplant to treat her leukemia. Her insurance provider, CIGNA Healthcare, first denied the potentially lifesaving transplant, but relented after a loud public protest and outrage. By that time, though, Sarkysian passed away before the procedure could be performed.
Cbsnews
Nyceve and California Nurses led an effort in December 2007 that forced CIGNA to change its mind and cover the liver transplant, but it was too late.
And, never forget, that CIGNA was shamed, kicking and screaming into approving the transplant thanks to you--Kossacks, outraged American citizens, California Nurses and the Armenian community in Los Angeles, who stood up and said, ENOUGH.
And as you read this bullshit self serving garbage, please, please remember Nataline was an insured American citizen.
You think you're insured? Think again.
What happened to Nataline happens across the United States day-in-and-day out. It is the for-profit insurance industry business model. Delay. Deny. Deceive.
nyceve:Cover your a** from the CIGNA medical director (action needed)
In a stunning turn around, insurance giant CIGNA has capitulated to community demands, and protests that the California Nurses Association/National Nurses Organizing Committee helped to generate, and agreed to a critically needed liver transplant for Nataline Sarkisyan, a 17-year-old girl in the intensive care unit at UCLA Medical Center. Unfortunately, Nataline passed away yesterday just after six o'clock the same day of the massive protest.
Hilda's 17 year-old daughter Natalie a victim of rescission, dies after prolonged battle with intransigent insurance company. Courtesy CNN Visit: http://firedoglake.com
And here's what happened last year:
Surrounded by supporters, Hilda Sarkisyan marched into Cigna Corp.’s Philadelphia headquarters on a chilly fall day, 10 months after the company refused to pay for a liver transplant for her daughter.
"You guys killed my daughter," the diminutive San Fernando Valley real estate agent declared at the lobby security desk. "I want an apology."
What she got was something quite different.
Cigna employees, looking down into the atrium lobby from a balcony above, began heckling her, she said, with one of them giving her "the finger."
Sarkisyan walked out, stunned and hurt.
"They showed me their true colors," she said. "Shame on them."
LA Times:
Cigna corporate later apologized for the employees obscene behavior:
"I was very disappointed to learn of the behavior of one of our employees when you were at our company's headquarters," wrote John M. Murabito, executive vice president for human resources.
"I sincerely regret this individual's offensive and inappropriate action," he continued. "Please know that he did not represent the views of our company or the views of other employees who work here. We deeply empathize with you and wish you peace and comfort in your loss.
The murder by spreadsheet industry, in action. As Ms. Sarkisyan said:
"You guys killed my daughter,"
Their answer, a one finger salute.
Update I: Eve wrote a diary that day on it. She was with Nataline when it happened:
Anger in Philadelphia: CIGNA + McCain = Murder by Spreadsheet, Oct 30, 2008
Catcalls, jeers and the finger from CIGNA employees.
She has pictures also.
Update II: From California Nurses Shrum in the comments, a You Tube of that day: