Health Net settles charges of unfair policy cancellations

California health plan Health Net, along with two of its subsidiaries, has settled a lawsuit brought by the Los Angeles city attorney over charges that it improperly canceled members' policies.

Under the settlement, Health Net will pay a $2 million fine and will also make $500,000 in charitable contributions. Also, more than 800 ex-policyholders will get $6.3 million in payments, or about $7,800 each. They also will be able to request reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical expenses incurred during the period in which they had no coverage.

This on the heels of a similar settlement with Anthem Blue Cross, which agreed this week to pay a $1 million fine to the California Department of Insurance and offer new coverage to 2,330 people it dropped when they began incurring high-cost medical expenses.

To learn more about Health Net's legal problem:
- read this Modern Healthcare article (reg. req.)

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