LAist: Northridge Teen Dies Because Health Insurance Would Not Pay

Bobcan

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:42:00 -0800

How do you know that a universal health care system would have covered it? They don't cover everything, just to let you know. They don't cover dental or the price of prescriptions for everyone. Other than that name something that universal healthcare does not cover.

Bobcan

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:41:10 -0800

montie

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 14:01:48 -0800

one of amny reasons to adopt universal healthcare. How do you know that a universal health care system would have covered it? They don't cover everything, just to let you know.

zooey11

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:50:53 -0800

one of many good reasons to adopt universal healthcare. http://www.onecarenow.org/index.html

zooey11

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:49:59 -0800

one of amny reasons to adopt universal healthcare. http://www.onecarenow.org/index.html

danwuh

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:02:19 -0800

Cignas fiscal policy is irrelevant. Call me naive but if you have paid for coverage (unless the small print includes "We have the right to refuse support if the board of directors decides your gonna cost too much") and your physician and consultants have all signed the correct paperwork that justifies the use of such an operation - then your insurance company, the one you've been PAYING, should honour their contract. The fact that Cigna did not is tantamount to manslaughter. If anyone in the medical profession made a call such as that because it was too expensive, they would be done for gross negligence. Yeah we all die. But I pay to ensure that I will get the best treatment at a hospital without bancrupcy.

brenda27

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:57:17 -0800

It's sad to see the opinion of those like Germinate, but they are out there. It is obvious that Germinate is not serious about their family and/or has never lost or really cared for anyone. It's sad, but everyone is entitled to their opinion but it is clear that they have never been put in a hard situation like that...or can not imagine it. My brother has leukemia and it is an illness that has steps and a road map of all the treatment but at times they have to do alternative or fight the disease harder. My brother is in remission but if someone like Germinate would have been my brother's family, it seems they would have given up long ago. I love my brother and all the kids that are in his clinic. They fight hard, you cannot imagine and it pains me to see an insurance company act this way. For them it is another emense bill but for us this kids are our life, family. I would give him mine if I could but for the moment, I am here as support. The girl who died here, Nataline is at least resting but she could have been saved. Miracles happen everyday and when insurance companies have the right to terminate treatment, that's when we should be scared. Their action were criminal since this was the childs only way of survival. This is America, our people come first and it's not like the premiums and costs of insurance are low, if you are like me you pay a lot each week. Cigna should be prosecuted but knowing the justice system this will be forgotten shortly. Instead of pumping $70 billion on a war, at least some should be spent on our own people here. Open your eyes people, this is just the beginning...sad.

brenda27

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:56:54 -0800

Mkay

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:46:20 -0800

I believe it was best to let her go, it was her time and it was no one's fault. And how would you know this? Are you her physician? Probably not, because according to the L.A. Times story, the transplant was recommended by the professionals involved in her care. Clearly, such observations should be made by qualified professionals, not HMOs, and definitely not you.

Sotto Voce Nyx

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:42:40 -0800

I went my own round with Cigna (back in the day that I had a job that provided health care coverage). Everything was fine until I actually needed surgery. Then they wanted to pay for a cheap (but more risky/longer time recouping) surgery provided by a doctor that I swear seemed DRUNK and unkempt, when I went for my consultation. I got a second opinion from an outside the network doctor who was well versed in the newer laproscopic techniques that Cigna was too cheap to train their doctors to do (now it is common prodedure and the old operation is never used). Wrote up a 10 page letter describing the behavior of their doctor (witnessed) with a cost analysis on why it would be cheaper for them to go outside of network (meanwhile I felt like crap!!! and was stressed out big time and in pain) and at the letter's closing wrote: Oh, and by the way did you know I am employed by the county newspaper? Next enrollment time I switched to a PPO, but then ended up having to leave that job. I think the above point should never be forgotten, insurance companies are a business and their primary concern is makings and saving money. You have to fight for every little thing. I wish the media/world at large had know about the situation before the girl's death. Perhaps money could have been raised and more pressure could have been asserted. It's a terrible situation that we all ignore until it's too late or until it happens to us or a loved one. National health care is by no means perfect but it would be a frickin start. They okayed going outside network

Sotto Voce Nyx

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:42:34 -0800

Sotto Voce Nyx

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 06:42:09 -0800

cgabriel

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:53:11 -0800

I dont think Geminate is kidding. Which would make Geminate a dumb fuck. Yeah everyone is going to die, yeah its a part of life, Yeah you still try to keep someone alive so long as there is a chance to save them.

cgabriel

Sat, 22 Dec 2007 01:52:55 -0800

CreativeForce

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:12:16 -0800

I hope Geminate was being sarcastic. If so ... props! ... hell of a funny post! A little creepy ... but hella funny!

CreativeForce

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:04:21 -0800

I hope they get those cheap bastards! Sad ... freaking sad.

Geminate

Fri, 21 Dec 2007 23:03:43 -0800

Insurance is a business that needs to be profitable. If it does not make a profit, there is no way to pay on claims, employees and thousands of other business related costs. Sometimes people are just too ill or broken and all the money or operations in the world isn't going to save them. Death is part of life, it is going to happen to everyone. Because of this patient's illnesses, condition (coma and severe complications), I believe it was best to let her go, it was her time and it was no one's fault. This family should be grateful to have had a daughter for a time, there are no guarantees in life. Why are the people who helped to a reasonable extent now being sued? They should be commended on how much they did expend on trying to keep this very very ill person alive for as long as they did.