Recent comments

Wendell, How far will your convictions to stay out of Dante's inferno carry you? Cigna goes into great detail in its SEC filings about its Patients Bill of Rights and its elaborate member complaint policy promising that its members will Be Heard, promising access to quality care from Cigna providers. Well, from my personal experience, Cigna doesn't have any method for handling complaints, and this is a violation of Sarbanes-Oxley subject to millions of dollars in damages if prosecuted. The many Cigna providers I saw when I became sick in my late 40s did nothing more than refer me from one test and specialist to the next. Providers dismissed all positive test results and each assumed the other specialist was in charge of my care. My primary care doctor delegated my care to the specialists which is against Cigna rules unless Cigna expressly gives written permission. When I complained to Cigna in writing, my complaint was returned to me months later with a form letter attached. When I repeatedly complained over the phone, I was told by member services supervisors that Cigna's computer system doesn't have any lines to enter member complaints and there is no where to forward complaints. Not one of the many member service reps I spoke with had ever heard of the Patient Bill of Rights. As a result of not being diagnosed nor treated, I lost my job and all my savings. Using the mountain of positive test results amassed from all my doctor visits, I applied for and was awarded Social Security disability insurance. I have been disabled for five years now with severe osteoarthritis and degenerative disc disease caused by an undiagnosed, untreated systemic bacterial infection that could have been treated with long-term antibiotic therapy--penicillin. I finally qualify for Medicare coverage in August 2009. I hope I can find somewhere to live after my home is foreclosed upon. Why don't you talk about this aspect of Cigna shenanigans and the influence medical insurers have on how doctors behave toward their patients? How many doctors do you think fail to see illness because their bonus from insurers depends upon the number of "healthy" patients they have? I was a former investigative reporter, took notes after each dealing with Cigna, and saved every scrap of paper related to Cigna and my medical care. Unfortunately, attorneys have the same scrupples as medical insurers. I can't find one to represent me now that I've lost everything, including my health -- all while I was insured with Cigna. You and I both know this was just another dishonest Cigna marketing ploy. But when Cigna documented the ploy in SEC filings, it broke the law, and no one cares. Do you? I'm willing to go public with all details of my health, names, times, dates... I've nothing left to lose.