Cigna defends decision to let teenager die..

What most people don't realize is the most health care dollars are consumed by any individual during the last 7 days of their life.  At this time the insurer takes the largest net impact to their bottom line and the greatest risk because the doctors literally throw everything at the patient to save their life.  From the Raw Story article:

"What is often misunderstood is that most health benefit plans, whether public or private, do not cover unproven and experimental treatment related to transplants or other treatments," they wrote. "Coverage decisions under these plans are based on the best scientific and clinical evidence available, often utilizing external experts, without consideration of cost."

The Raw Story | Cigna officers defend decision to let teenager die

The facts remain, that until you can remove cost as a component of any health care decision these types of events will continue to happen.  A model must be found where we can better balance the risk and the cost of health care across all of society, rather then a single insurance risk pool.

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