Should the Health Insurance Company be sued in this teen's Death?

Question

Nataline Sarkisyan, a 17-year-old from Glendale, Calif., died Thursday just a few hours after her insurer, Cigna HealthCare, approved a procedure it had previously described as "too experimental." The parents are suing


http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/CancerPreventionAndTreatment/story?id=4038257&page=1

What if more people sued?

Answer 1

These health care providers are really cold. They don't care about the person, they only care about the bottom line $$$.

I think if more people sued, we'd get better service. I know that Blue Shield recently tried to pull a fast one on a person by saying they lied on their application and denied payment for a big bill. I know when I applied they said that if I lied or "left out information" on my application, they would have the right to discontinue my policy. Well, anyone can say you left out something, do you remember EVERYTHING that's happened in your entire life regarding medical?

Answer 2

Sure, let's drive all for profit insurance companies out of business. They have taken all of the incentive for consumers to find the best deal out of medical care and just driven up the cost. When an adult gets sick in this country the only hope is charity or Medicaid any way.You cannot blame the insurance companies for wanting to make a profit any way.

I cannot even get a quote for a procedure from a hospital, because they are not even set up to tell you what thier services cost. My Wife had to get a liver biopsie done and her doctor practices at two hospitals. So I called both hospitals asking for a quote. One of the hospitals actually got mad for me asking. She angrily said, "you will have to get with your doctor and decide if you want to get this done." after I pressured her for a price. It has been so long since anybody has ever pressured a doctor or a hospital for a price that they cannot even give one. Health insurance is rare in Panama, and my mother had a heat stroke there this summer. She stayed overnight in the hospital with an IV drip and medication. She was given a Cat Scan and an EEG. The total cost was less than $100.00. They actually had a menu board with prices on it. $320.00 to have a baby with pain relief for example.

Like nearly all of you I can only get reasonable health insurance through a group, like my employer. But as soon as I get truly sick, I will lose my job. I will have a right to buy Cobra insurance for 18 months, but they are allowed to charge whatever it will cost for whatever treatment I need plus a risk premium for what I might get. All of this while I am unemployed?

So we have a system where I negotiate with A to decide if B will do some work, and C will pay whatever we agree to. Since C is paying, I will always look for whomever charges the most assuming that they are also the best. Moreover, if I am going to die and there is a .00000000001% chance that it will work, I want the work done regardless of what it will cost. There has to be some rationing somewhere. There is a finite set of resources on this planet, and we all are going to die of something.

So lets sue all of the for profit insurance companies out of business. The price of medical care will plummet to prices that everybody can afford. We might as well have government only insurance for major problems because that is all you truly have any way. When you are sick you will lose your Medical insurance any way. For profit insurance companies only exist to make money, so we have rationing any way.

Answer 3

Yet another argument for government provided healthcare. There you could sue and vote out the politicians who set up these things. Making profits on peoples misery is all a healthcare insurance company is good for.

Answer 4

If more people sued the end result would be there wouldn't be health insurance companies. These are private business who exist to make profits for their owners/stockholders.

The parents can sue all they want they will not get anywhere as their policy parameters only allow for arbitration and prohibit a suit being filed.

Answer 5

More people do sue, that is why health insurance is so high. The parents should have let the procedure be done and worried about paying for it later.
Why don't people question the facilities who charge such high prices for health-care? I bet if a study was done they would find that what is charged is way above what the actual cost is. They just know that because the person is dying people will pay as much as they ask.

Answer 6

Actually, the family believes CIGNA to be responsible for manslaughter.

Answer 7

Absolutely.

If more people sued, maybe the insurance companies would start to find it more profitable to do what they are being paid to do -- help people stay healthy.

Answer 8

I would think so.