Kyler's Nemesis in the News Again
HealthAmerica stiffed Pennsylvania ER patients out of medical claims.
You know how HealthAmerica won't pay for Kyler VanNocker's neuroblastoma treatment? Turns out the Harrisburg-based insurance company also tried to stiff more than 600 Pennsylvania policy-holders out of $445,981 worth of claims for Emergency Room treatment.
In a press release issued last Friday, state Attorney General Tom Corbett details how HealthAmerica allegedly rejected claims for emergency room treatment by using standards that were higher than the guidelines outlined in their insurance plans.
What a lovely company!
In a settlement with the state, HealthAmerica will now reprocess and pay those claims. Additionally, the insurer must change its claims-review procedures as well as pay $10,000 in civil penalties. The company is also on the hook for $50,025 to cover the cost of the claim investigation, attorney fees, court costs and future public protection and consumer education activities by the Attorney General's Office.
Meantime, Corbett advises that anyone with problems or concerns about claims involving HealthAmerica call the Attorney General's Health Care Hotline at 1-877-888-4877. You can also file an online complaint at www.attorneygeneral.gov (Click on the "Complaints" button near the top left corner of the website and select "Health Care Complaints" from the menu list).