I have been hearing this story all weekend. It’s shocking!
In what is considered the richest nation in the world–the good ole US of A–Cigna health insurance company refuses to pay for a liver transplant for one of its insurers, in this case a 17-year-old-girl who has her whole life in front of her.
You gotta wonder how these insurance people sleep at night? It’s all about corporate greed. To me, insurance is the biggest ripoff in the world. You pay, pay, pay, but when you need it–they flake out.
The article says that the U.S. ranks No. 37 in health care. You would think being the richest nation in the world we would rank better. It’s not that we don’t have a slew of well educated doctors, nurses and researchers — it’s that the health care system doesn’t make the best care available to its citizens.
By the way, Cigna raked in $16.5 BILLION in revenues in 2006. Just think of how many life-and-death procedures they failed to provide for that didn’t get the press that this one did.
This article appears in Dec 20-26, 2007.
I like that the story specifies that the girl was “pretty”. Just think of how many UGLY 17 year old girls die every year…
That is sinful. Sure hope those Cigna folks get everything they deserve – like burning in hell.
If they openly claim $16 billion in profit, imagine how much they must be hiding in offshore accounts, bogus charities, sinecures, phony investment schemes, etc…
Revenue does not equal net profit or net loss. Argue from how the company did overall for the year, not from how much it raked in before expenses.
.
According to Hoover’s facts on CIGNA, the total net income for last year was $1.15 billion, not $16 bil.
.
I’m not defending the company, but I do want the facts straight. I am disappointed in the gross misdirection involved here.
Thank you for the clarification, IPH. The difference is an order of magnitude, so… quite a difference.
I do not believe that the “SICKO” documentary by Michael Moore was completely objective. However, the corporate greed in America needs to seriously be addressed, and I would suggest watching this documentary.(Blockbuster) I do not support national health insurance, but one must wonder where we are headed.
The governement needs to make a serious effort at uncovering the facts related to the billions of dollars brought in by health insurance BIG BUSINESS while Americans are being denied vital and sometimes life threatening treatment. I agree with Karyn 100%…How can they sleep at night? In the documentary you will find that some of them probably don’t…as they quit their jobs and do not want to be part of the questionable health insurance industry.
In regard to comment by IPH, I feel that 1.5 billion is way beyond acceptable where my fellow American lives are at stake.
It appears to me that Corporate America is destroying our country and Americans are actually dying over the greed.
Correction:
In regard to IPH, I feel that 1.15 billion is way beyond acceptable where my fellow American lives are at stake.
Sorry for the typo.