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WellPoint Inc. Blue Cross Bad Faith Insurance Claims
April 18 2006
WellPoint, the largest health benefits company in the US, is alleged to have systematically and illegally released policyholders with costly medical care.
The suit claims that Blue Cross looks for mistakes or omissions in approved health insurance applicants to cancel policies and avoid paying expensive medical claims. The suit also alleges the Blue Cross application is designed to be confusing with the intent to trap applicants into misstatements and omissions that could cancel their policies.
One plaintiff's Blue Cross coverage was cancelled when she contracted breast cancer - she "had failed to disclose on her original application that she has been exposed to hepatitis B." She had been exposed as a child and didn't think there was any problem with the exposure.
Another plaintiff's Blue Cross policy was cancelled after she needed gynecological surgery - "she had not disclosed to Blue Cross that she had been treated for severe, migrainelike headaches in 2000." The plaintiff claims she did not check off this item because it was included with other symptoms such as seizures and epilepsy, which she didn't have.
Wellpoint Insurance Articles
WellPoint Subsidiary Settles but no Responsibility Taken
Blue Cross of California, a subsidiary of WellPoint insurance, has agreed to settle over 70 lawsuits filed after the insurance company illegally cancelled patients' coverage when they got sick.
If you or a loved one has had your insurance policy cancelled by Wellpoint Inc., you may qualify for damages or remedies that may be awarded in a Wellpoint insurance class action or lawsuit. Please fill in our form on the right to submit your complaint to an insurance lawyer for a free evaluation.
I worked for Blue Cross of New York.
In 1986, I had a stroke and have been on long-term disability since. Blue Cross promised my family and myself health insurance- at no cost (I still have the letter with me). Then it became Empire Blue Cross, and began charging my family (myself, my husband, and my son who is now 16) a total of about $130/month. The coverage included dental and vision. I wrote to Blue Cross to complain. They said the contract was subject to change. I didn't persue the complaint further. Now, Wellpoint just bought Empire Blue Cross, and they want to raise the monthly charge to about $300. They are trying to abandon retirees who are on longterm disability like myself. And there is no guarantee that they will not raise the monthly charges again, to a point that I cannot afford. Then I might be forced to be without health insurance. I have to enroll their new plan by July 31, 2007. They will unilaterally cancel the contract for the current year. Their reason, our current coverage doesn't make business sense to them!
I understand that your organization is in California, and may not be able to help me. But can you refer me to a similar organization in New York?
Thank you.
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The suit claims that Blue Cross looks for mistakes or omissions in approved health insurance applicants to cancel policies and avoid paying expensive medical claims. The suit also alleges the Blue Cross application is designed to be confusing with the intent to trap applicants into misstatements and omissions that could cancel their policies.
