Amputee Victims Achieve First Step in Obtaining Justice Over United Healthcare’s Improper Claims Handling Practices
In a class action lawsuit brought by amputee attorney Conal Doyle, the federal district court granted class certification, finding that United Healthcare engaged in nationwide common claims handling practices that can be challenged on a class wide basis. The lawsuit challenged United’s practice of denying covered prosthetic component parts, and failing to inform amputee patients that an alternative prosthetic device would be approved when denying claims. A trial on the merits of the case, that is, whether United’s claims practices are unlawful, is scheduled for April 2019. The lawsuit seeks to reform United’s claims practices and to require a re-processing of denied claims during the past six years.