SEATTLE - September 14 - On the heels of President Obama's speech on health care reform, Brave New Films and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Healthcare 775NW stage a protest on CIGNA's doorsteps. SEIU's action follows the launch of Brave New Films' second installment of Sick For Profit at http://sickforprofit.com.  Following the viral first installment which had over 200,000 views, this installment of Sick For Profit contrasts CIGNA executives' lavish lifestyles with CIGNA's systematic denial of care to its policyholders.

To view the video, please click: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G4TsaHmtgfA

This video launch will accompany SEIU Healthcare 775NW's rally outside CIGNA's office in downtown Seattle, where over 400 senior caregivers and their clients will be joined by other community allies.  Long-term care workers and their allies will demand an end to CIGNA's opposition to a public option and call for quick action to pass legislation ensuring access to affordable health care for all Americans.

Leading the rally will be CIGNA policy holder Jo Joshua Godfrey, who was featured in the CIGNA Sick for Profit video. According to Jo Joshua Godfrey, CIGNA hid her cancer from her for a year and a half in order to avoid paying for her care. Despite the numerous claims and letters that were written on her behalf, CIGNA continued to deny her condition and care.  Jo Joshua Godfrey formed the group United Patients of America in order to continue her battle and let others know that they are not alone in their fight.

"I would go to CIGNA and they would tell me I had bronchitis and give me medicine and send me home. Then the CIGNA Director called me up and she told me that there was nothing wrong with me at all.  I called the doctor, and I came with my film and my CAT scan and he just put it in, it took exactly thirty seconds. He told me, 'You have cancer,' and he said the reason CIGNA did not want to give you your records is they've known right way back for years that you have cancer and they're not going to treat you." Jo Joshua Godfrey

Private health insurance companies have vehemently lobbied against comprehensive health care reform, spending upwards of $1.4 million per day to ensure the bottom line that supports their lavish lifestyles.*  CIGNA executives, for example, dine using gold plated flatware and travel via CIGNA's two corporate jets.  CIGNA CEO Edward Hanway's Five-Year Compensation Totals $120.51 million (as of 4/30/2008), and his Total Value of Unexercised Options come to $28,881,000 (Forbes.com).

*Washington Post, July 21, 2009