|
It's been just three months since Nataline Sarkisyan was killed by her health insurance company, CIGNA. Today the California Nurses Association and Eve Gittelson, aka "nyceve" at Daily Kos, bring us the story of another Southern California teen whose lifesaving treatment is being denied by an insurer - in this case, PacifiCare/United Health.
It's unconscionable that in the United States in 2008, one has to organize protests in order to save a life. But here we are. From the CNA's Guaranteed Healthcare website, where there are dozens of similar stories:
This is Nick's older brother, Ricky, and I want to ask all of you for a huge favor. Our insurance company, PacifiCare, denied Nick to go to Kansas City for a special treatment of radiation for his cancer (this could save his life). Nick has suffered with cancer for 4 years of his life and he has exhausted every avenue to get better, but nothing worked. This is our last effort and this procedure has worked before with people in Nick's situation. I think it is our duty to stand up for Nick and tell PacifiCare that what they are doing is wrong.
I am putting together a demonstration in front of the PacifiCare building at 5701 Katella Ave Cypress, CA 90630. Tuesday, March 25th, at 10:00 a.m. We are getting the media to step in and put pressure on (kcal9 and newspapers).
If we can at least get 300 people there I know they will have to say something about it. I know that my brother isn't the only one suffering because of America's poor healthcare system.
If you guys know anyone else that is suffering because of this, have him or her come out too. We need to let not only PacifiCare but America know that what they are doing is wrong and we need change.
Thank all of you so much.
Ricky Colombo
From Eve's diary at dKos:
Here are the emails I received from the California Nurses Association.
Just received a call from Ricky Columbo. His brother Nick has cancer, and the treatments thus far have been ineffective. The docs recommend cyberknife. Insurance won't pay.
He is organizing a protest outside the Pacifica Care building in Cypress, CA next Tuesday at 10. He heard CNA did this kind of thing, and would like CNA to come and support the effort. He says he has already rallied a bunch of people to come to it, thinks there is going to be a big crowd.
He has also spoken with Dave Lopez at Channel 9, who is supposedly covering it.
Here's another just received:
Just spoke to the young man, Ricky, 19. Nick, this boy with Ewing's Sarcoma (bone cancer) is only 17 - The mother works long hours preparing taxes for people and cares for the son before she leaves; the father then comes home earlier in the day to care for his son.
They have had a local TV reporter to their home to interview Nick and are hoping to get more attention to push PacifiCare.
Donna Smith
Communications Specialist
California Nurses Association
The contact information is PacifiCare at 714-828-1821 or Tyler Mason, the UnitedHealth/Pacificare spokesperson at 714-226-3530.
More info and background below.
|
