Patsy Bates, a 52 year old woman in Los Angeles, won $9 million in a lawsuit against her insurer after having her policy canceled in the middle of her breast cancer therapy.
Her policy was canceled in 2004, leaving her with $129,000 in unpaid bills. Upon hearing that her costs were no longer covered, her doctors left her to die. She continued her treatment under a state funded program.
"It's hard to imagine a situation more trying than the one Bates has had to endure," the presiding Judge wrote after making the court decision. "The rug was pulled out from underneath, and that occurred at a time when she is diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the leading causes of death for women."
Bates, who is a mother of two, was excited to hear the verdict.
"I am elated," she said.
Bates' insurer, Health Net, was found to have used a policy that rewarded it's employees for finding reasons to cancel policies. The Los Angeles City Attorney had filed suit against the company for illegally canceling 1,600 policies.
"It's hard to imagine a policy more reprehensible than tying bonuses to encourage the recision of health insurance that helps keep the public well and alive," Judge Cianchetti wrote in the Bates decision.
1 comment:
I could never imagine, nor do I care to, having to ever go through what Ms. Bates had to endure. It is what many insurance companies do to its policy holders when it is their turn to pay out. I live in the south, and have had to deal with insurance companies when hurricanes come through and damage or destroy insured property. Those things can be replaced. But Ms. Bates is a human being that deserves the best care. To be let down in this manner during a time of sickness, compounds the heavy load I am sure she was dealing with. Insurance companies need to be regulated the same as citizens when it comes to not upholding their end of contracts. Then to add insult to injury, you give rewards to employees who cut people off? THAT should be a red flag to our government as to the lack of business integrity, that many other companies (Haliburton, Exxon, PG&E)use in making sure they come out on top at the expense of the customers who make them who they are.
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