Teen Dies After Health Insurance Nixes Transplant

Teen dies after insurance nixes transplant
17-year-old girl needed new liver; company initially refused payment

GLENDALE, Calif. - A 17-year old died just hours after her health insurance company reversed its decision not to pay for a liver transplant that doctors said the girl needed.

Nataline Sarkisyan died at about 6 p.m. Thursday at University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. She had been in a vegetative state for weeks, said her mother, Hilda.
"She passed away, and the insurance (company) is responsible for this," she said.

Nataline had been battling leukemia and received a bone marrow transplant from her brother. She developed a complication, however, that caused her liver to fail. Doctors at UCLA determined she needed a transplant and sent a letter to CIGNA Healthcare on Dec. 11. The Philadelphia-based health insurance company denied payment for the transplant.

On Thursday, about 150 teenagers and nurses protested outside CIGNA's office in Glendale. As the protesters rallied, the company reversed its decision and said it would approve the transplant.

Despite the reversal, CIGNA said in an e-mail statement before she died that there was a lack of medical evidence showing the procedure would work in Nataline's case.

"Our hearts go out to Nataline and her family, as they endure this terrible ordeal," the company said. " ... CIGNA HealthCare has decided to make an exception in this rare and unusual case and we will provide coverage should she proceed with the requested liver transplant."

Edit. Funny how some insurance claims manager decided the liver transplant wouldn't work for Nataline, when her UCLA doctors said it would. Once again the insurance company wins. Their insured is dead, they didn't have to pay for the expensive procedure, and the family probably can do nothing to hold CIGNA accountable in court. Perfect. Champagne corks are popping in CIGNA's boardroom.