health insurer must pay $9 million for cancelling woman's policy - GoFuckYourself.com

ADL Colin · 02-25-2008, 09:56 AM

When Patsy Bates began her battle against breast cancer, she didn't expect she would also have to battle her health insurer too.

Bates faced the bureaucratic diagnosis of rescission: when a health insurer retroactively cancels your insurance policy. But in a precedent-setting decision announced last week, a California judge ordered Bates' insurer to pay her more than $9 million for dropping her policy after it learned she had cancer.

...

Not only did she receive a $9 million punitive damages settlement against Health Net Inc., one of the largest for-profit insurers in California, but the company also announced Friday that it had stopped the controversial practice of canceling sick policyholders' policies.

In the landmark ruling, the outraged judge wrote: "She had valid health insurance ? when the rug was pulled from underneath, and that occurred at a time when she is diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the leading causes of death for women."

Project-Shadow · 02-25-2008, 10:12 AM

That's fantastic news for her, but awful news for the general public whos premiums will no doubt rise because of it.. but hey no worries, when the time comes and you actually need your insurance they wont pay out anyway :D

Rochard · 02-25-2008, 10:28 AM

I heard about this on the news. That's a load of bullshit. Good for them. $9mil is getting off cheap.

D · 02-25-2008, 10:34 AM

Solid stuff.

D · 02-25-2008, 10:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Project-Shadow

but awful news for the general public whos premiums will no doubt rise because of it..

Premiums rise too much = move on to another insurer.

It's the way of capitalism. I'm stoked that a company's being held responsible for jacked-up policy. Hopefully, there's more to come.

TheDoc · 02-25-2008, 11:07 AM

Glad to see this.. More people need to start doing this for this crap then sue for increased rates and force them to release the costs/rates of everything. Once a few people see you can sue and win, it's all over with.

moeloubani · 02-25-2008, 12:25 PM

Canada FTW, I'd rather wait a little longer for my health care than not get it at all :D

Holly · 02-25-2008, 12:30 PM

That's a John Grisham novel waiting to happen.

tranza · 02-25-2008, 12:38 PM

Wow, I can't believe it's legal in the US for health insurance companies to do that!!

LiveDose · 02-25-2008, 12:42 PM

Good for her. Insurance companies screw a lot of people.

TheAgent · 02-25-2008, 12:54 PM

Good News

Health Insurance companies need an ass woopin

Drake · 02-25-2008, 12:54 PM

Congrats to the winner, her.

02-25-2008, 09:56 AM	#1
ADL Colin Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Tube Titans, USA Posts: 11,929	health insurer must pay $9 million for cancelling woman's policy When Patsy Bates began her battle against breast cancer, she didn't expect she would also have to battle her health insurer too. Bates faced the bureaucratic diagnosis of rescission: when a health insurer retroactively cancels your insurance policy. But in a precedent-setting decision announced last week, a California judge ordered Bates' insurer to pay her more than $9 million for dropping her policy after it learned she had cancer. ... Not only did she receive a $9 million punitive damages settlement against Health Net Inc., one of the largest for-profit insurers in California, but the company also announced Friday that it had stopped the controversial practice of canceling sick policyholders' policies. In the landmark ruling, the outraged judge wrote: "She had valid health insurance ? when the rug was pulled from underneath, and that occurred at a time when she is diagnosed with breast cancer, one of the leading causes of death for women." __________________ Adult Date Link - $50 PPS starting NOW! -- good and JUICY! skype = "adultdatelink"

02-25-2008, 10:28 AM	#3
Rochard Jägermeister Test Pilot Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: NORCAL Posts: 74,014	I heard about this on the news. That's a load of bullshit. Good for them. $9mil is getting off cheap. __________________ “The choice is no longer between right or left. The choice is between normal and crazy.” - Sarah Huckabee Sanders YNOT MAIL \| THE BEST ADULT MAILING SOLUTION

02-25-2008, 10:34 AM	#4
D Confirmed User Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: The Valley Posts: 7,412	Solid stuff. __________________ -D. ICQ: 202-96-31

02-25-2008, 11:07 AM	#6
TheDoc Too lazy to set a custom title Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Currently Incognito Posts: 13,827	Glad to see this.. More people need to start doing this for this crap then sue for increased rates and force them to release the costs/rates of everything. Once a few people see you can sue and win, it's all over with. __________________ ~TheDoc - ICQ7765825 It's all disambiguation

02-25-2008, 12:30 PM	#8
Holly Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Jesusland Posts: 10,017	That's a John Grisham novel waiting to happen. __________________ War National Damn Champions Eagle

02-25-2008, 10:12 AM	#2
Project-Shadow Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2003 Posts: 7,340	That's fantastic news for her, but awful news for the general public whos premiums will no doubt rise because of it.. but hey no worries, when the time comes and you actually need your insurance they wont pay out anyway :D

02-25-2008, 12:25 PM	#7
moeloubani Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 4,235	Canada FTW, I'd rather wait a little longer for my health care than not get it at all :D

02-25-2008, 12:38 PM	#9
tranza ICQ: 197-556-237 Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: BRASIL !!! Posts: 57,559	Wow, I can't believe it's legal in the US for health insurance companies to do that!! __________________ I'm just a newbie.

02-25-2008, 12:42 PM	#10
LiveDose Show Yer Tits! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Somewhere Out there... Posts: 25,792	Good for her. Insurance companies screw a lot of people. __________________ Scammer Alert: acer19 acer [email protected] [email protected] Money stolen using PayPal

02-25-2008, 12:54 PM	#11
TheAgent Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Dirty Jersey Posts: 265	Good News Health Insurance companies need an ass woopin __________________ I think Big, I think Fast and I think Ahead

02-25-2008, 12:54 PM	#12
Drake Hello world! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 12,508	Congrats to the winner, her.