A 17-year old died just hours after her health insurance company reversed its decision not to pay for a liver transplant that doctors said the girl needed.

Nataline Sarkisyan died Thursday night at about 6 p.m. at University of California, Los Angeles Medical Center. She had been in a vegetative state for weeks, said her mother, Hilda.

"She passed away, and the insurance (company) is responsible for this," she said.

Nataline had been battling leukemia and received a bone marrow transplant from her brother. She developed a complication, however, that caused her liver to fail.

Doctors at UCLA determined she needed a transplant and sent a letter to CIGNA Healthcare on Dec. 11. The Philadelphia-based health insurance company denied payment for the transplant.

On Thursday, about 150 teenagers and nurses protested outside CIGNA's office in Glendale. As the protesters rallied, the company reversed its decision and said it would approve the transplant.

Despite the reversal, CIGNA said in an e-mail statement before she died that there was a lack of medical evidence showing the procedure would work in Nataline's case.

"Our hearts go out to Nataline and her family, as they endure this terrible ordeal," the company said. " ... CIGNA HealthCare has decided to make an exception in this rare and unusual case and we will provide coverage should she proceed with the requested liver transplant."

Officials with CIGNA could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday night.

***Enough is enough!!!!***

 We need free health insurance provided by the government!

Opponents say that the taxes would be high.

What amount are you paying for health insurance premium that goes into the pockets of the shareholders who are more interested in a profit than your health. And how can you put a dollar value on human life? What is the teens life worth to anyone? Pay the tax and you will not be refused the medical care when its needed.

The politicians say they can't do it because the service will be poor, well, fire the politicians, replace them with competent people who know how to get the job done.

They say that the health industry and care would deteriorate. Fire the managers and find competent people that will make it work.

I am sick and tired of hearing stories such as these. We need to show the 'money' that controls our nation that we have had enough!

We need to stop paying the health insurance premium and bring them to their knees. They can't operate if we quit paying. And don't worry about your credit from not paying the bill because they can't give everybody bad credit, who would they lend the money to? 

We need to change this crap!

LSavage