‘Death panels’ already exist
Re: “Self-paid surgery, then a legal fight,” Oct. 7:
So Anthem Blue Cross of California agreed to pay for a policyholder’s liver transplant -- but only if he had it in California. This could have been a de facto death sentence for Ephram Nehme, whose doctor told him that he could die waiting. Because Nehme had the means to travel to Indiana and pay for a $205,000 procedure, he is alive today.
Next, Cigna HealthCare refused to pay for a liver transplant for one of its insured.
When at last it consents, due to negative publicity, it is too late and 17-year-old Nataline Sarkisyan dies.
To the voracious opponents of healthcare reform who have declared that a proposed new system would establish the installation of “death panels,” I say stop your screaming and rest assured that death panels are already securely in place. They are called “health” insurance companies.
Granville Ames
Los Angeles
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