Plaintiff whose insurer delayed surgery is awarded $14 million over opioid dependency (LA Times)

Plaintiff whose insurer delayed surgery is awarded $14 million over opioid dependency

A sign for Health Net outside corporate office buildings

DEC. 15, 2022 5:30 AM PT

A Los Angeles County jury awarded more than $14 million this week to a woman who sued her health insurance provider alleging that the company’s long delay in approving surgery for a painful condition led to her opioid dependency.

Health Net was ordered to pay $7.5 million in punitive damages and $6.9 million in compensatory damages after the jury found that the company had delayed or denied care without proper cause, resulting in harm to the plaintiff, Elaine Courtney.

Health Net, which also administers Medi-Cal health plans, said it was “exploring [its] options to appeal.”

“Health Net believes the verdict in the trial is flawed,” the company said in a statement. “We will continue to vigorously defend our position in court as well as our record of providing quality care to millions of Californians.”