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ABC News: AIG systematically denies injury claims of Americans

by TheCameraObscura | April 18, 2009 at 10:57 am

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Insurance giant AIG has angered Americans by receiving billions in bailout money and millions in bonuses, now a new report says that AIG often turns down the injury claims of American contractors who have lost eyes and legs in Iraq.

According to ABC’s Brian Ross, “AIG covers about 90% of the people who get hurt working overseas for American defense contractors.” Pro Publica analyzed 30,000 of those cases and found that, although minor injuries were covered without question, AIG had challenged an astonishing 43% of the more serious claims.

ABC reported on several of the most outrageous cases, including that of a blind amputee for whom AIG has refused to buy a new artificial leg. John Woodson, who was formerly a truck driver with Halliburton spin-off KBR, complained bitterly, “You have to ask a second time, a third time, a fourth time, and you’re still not getting it.”