CIGNA Healthcare Privacy Issua

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On Febuary 19th I hurt myself at work. They are denying the claim under Workman's Comp so I have to put it under CIGNA.

I have an incisional hernia that needs surgical repair. Since this will be the fifth surgery into the same scar the general surgeon is requesting a plastic surgeon. CIGNA is refusing to approve the surgery until I fax them semi-nude pictures! Has corporate greed replaced CATscans and MRI's with Polaroids? I don't consider faxing pictures of me in my bra and panites with the panties pulled down to my crotch to be an appropiate request to approve surgery. The supervisor at CIGNA actually said don't worry- we will make sure another woman takes them off the fax machine. Are these people for real?

Any ideas on how to put an end to this intrusion? So far I have gone to the Chief Operating Officer of my company and several supervisors at CIGNA. They all think it's a reasonable request. I have called Hilary Clinton's office and talked to her staff. She is my state senator. So far CIGNA won't budge.

Robin

-- Robin (darkdakota@aol.com), April 03, 2002

Answers

That sounds outrageous!! They should settle for a recommendation from your doctor. How about calling the insurance commisioner in your state? Best wishes.

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), April 03, 2002.

What does your doctor say (and you might want to get a second opinion)? Is it that they need to see the entire body, or can they get away with seeing just 5 square inches?

I also have problems with the faxing--any way you can just mail or overnight the photos directly to the person who needs to see them?

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), April 03, 2002.


I agree with others, faxing should not be an option.

I suggest that you get the company to allow you to send the photos via US Postal Service "Registered Mail", NOT certified. With registered it will have to sealed, stamped over the sealing tape, and as it changes hands within the postal stream it will have to be signed for. Any tampering enroute will be obvious from the postal marks on the sealing tape being broken.

Well, send that method if you can't get out of sending at all.

As far as contacting Hillary, I can't imagine that she would care at all, i.e. after considering all of the fun and games that went on under her nose while in the White House and her relatively doing nothing. For those of you that do care for her and her husband sorry. As for me, I respect their positions, but not them.

-- Notforprint (Not@thekeyboard.com), April 03, 2002.


I talked to the President of CIGNA's liason this afternoon, the supervisor handling my case and the human resources director for my company. I offered to fax a copy of the scar only. I really don't think the rest is necessary or appropiate snail mail or fax. Neither company is willing to put it in writing that the pics will never get out of their hands.

They seem really suprised that I even object, claiming that people do it all the time. Really makes me wonder about the state of the American public. Are people really THAT stupid to do all that is asked no matter how absurd?

-- Robin (darkdakota@aol.com), April 03, 2002.


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