Current and Former Health Net Members in California May Submit Claims for Out-of-Network Medical Visits in 2014, Reports Consumer Watchdog

LOS ANGELES, May 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumers who were enrolled in an individual or family Health Net Preferred Provider Organization ("PPO") health plan in 2014, and received out-of-network care from a doctor, may be entitled to a payment under a proposed class action settlement. Claim forms must be submitted to the Claims Administrator by June 25, 2018.

Notice of the settlement along with claims forms were mailed today.  These documents, as well as contact information for the Claims Administrator, may also be accessed on the settlement website: http://www.networksettlement.com/

California residents who incurred Out-of-Pocket Expenses in 2014 for medical services provided by an out-of-network medical professional they believed was in-network based on inaccurate information received from Health Net may submit a claim.

The settlement only applies to PPO plans purchased by individuals and families in 2014, not employer-provided health plans.  The settlement applies to charges from out-of-network medical professionals, not hospital, facility, or lab charges.

Under the settlement, in addition to the claims process:

Protections Against Unexpected Out-of-Network Charges: Consistent with California law, Health Net agrees to treat any out-of-network provider as in-network for billing purposes if that provider is represented as in-network by Health Net and a member relies on that network status when seeking medical services.

Actions to Ensure Provider List Accuracy: Health Net has taken and will continue to take actions to ensure the accuracy of the information in its medical provider directories.

Disclosures Regarding Coverage: Health Net will make certain disclosures designed to assist consumers' understanding of their coverage and support access to care.

The lawsuit, named Rebecca Lehman, et al. v. Health Net of California, Inc., et al., Los Angeles County Superior Court Case No.: BC567361, was filed on December 19, 2014.

For more information regarding the lawsuit or the proposed settlement visit http://www.networksettlement.com/, or call toll-free at (888) 264-1304. 

The Court will hold a Final Fairness hearing on July 12, 2018 to decide whether to approve the settlement. Check http://www.networksettlement.com/ for updates. The date of the Final Fairness hearing is subject to change.

The lawsuit was brought by attorneys for Consumer Watchdog, The Arns Law Firm, and Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP.

Consumer Watchdog is a non-profit and non-partisan public interest organization.  Visit us on the web at: www.ConsumerWatchdog.org

The Arns Law Firm, based in San Francisco, has earned a reputation for aggressively prosecuting complex class action, personal injury, products liability, and medical malpractice cases, among others. We are dedicated to achieving the highest possible judgment or settlement in the shortest period of time while handling each client's case with compassion and integrity.  On the Web at: http://arnslaw.com/

At Shernoff Bidart Echeverria LLP we lead the nation in protecting policyholders from insurance company abuse. The firm has been protecting the rights of insurance consumers, both individuals and businesses, for over 40 years after having set the legal precedent requiring insurance companies to act in good faith. Our attorneys also represent people involved in personal injury cases. If you were injured in an accident, or if a loved one suffered a wrongful death due to the negligence or recklessness of others, we can help you recover the financial compensation you deserve.  On the Web at:  http://shernoff.com/

SOURCE Consumer Watchdog