December 5, 2024
Contact: press@justice4survivors.com, 978-807-7950
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
‘The hypocrisy is glaring.’ Survivors and advocates ignored by Hochul’s Department of Financial Services as insurers refuse to pay claims in child sexual abuse cases
New York – Last night, Governor Hochul promised to intervene in Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield’s devastating decision to refuse full coverage of anesthesia in certain surgeries, leading to Anthem rescinding its decision today. Her administration’s strong response to insurers refusing coverage in healthcare stands in stark contrast to its failure thus far to push back on insurers refusing to pay claims in childhood sexual abuse cases.
In response, the Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation (“CJCC”) – an independent alliance of survivors of child sex abuse, their representatives, and advocates seeking full restitution for survivors of child sex abuse – released the following statement:
“It’s great to see Governor Hochul take a strong stance against insurance company greed when it comes to health coverage, but her administration has routinely failed to offer that same support to survivors of childhood sexual abuse whose claims are being refused,” said Dave Catalfamo, Executive Director of the CJCC. “The hypocrisy is glaring – for over a year, survivors have called on Hochul’s Department of Financial Services to ensure insurance giants stop denying Child Victims Act claims, but have been told to wait in silence. How many more childhood sexual abuse survivors have to die while waiting for justice before New York leaders stand up to big insurance? It’s clear that when Governor Hochul speaks up, insurers listen – as Anthem has backed off of its decision today. Governor Hochul and Albany leaders must be consistent and stand with us against insurers profiting by refusing to pay out Child Victims Act claims.”
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The Coalition for Just and Compassionate Compensation (“CJCC”) is an independent alliance of survivors of child sex abuse, their representatives, and advocates seeking full restitution for survivors of child sex abuse. Among members of the coalition are author and journalist Stephen Jimenez, a survivor of childhood sexual abuse and longtime advocate who helped pass the Child Victims Act (CVA), and attorneys James Marsh, Founding Partner at Marsh Law Firm and Hillary Nappi, Partner at Hach Rose Schirripa & Cheverie, who represent thousands of sexual abuse survivors in litigation against public and private entities.