Sick of paying too much on her health expenses, Shirley Raskind turned to her insurance provider, Blue Cross of California, for answers.
Blue Cross representatives did some research and realized they had made a few mistakes. Because of a mix-up in billing, Raskind was asked to pay nearly $800 more than her agreed-upon yearly out-of-pocket maximum, she told a Santa Monica judge last week.
Susanne Fogel, a representative from the Blue Cross legal department, explained Blue Cross had been “erroneous” in explaining Raskind’s benefits by telling the Los Angeles woman she owed physicians for services that were actually covered under her insurance policy.
But the insurance giant refused to shoulder the responsibility of correcting its mistake. Rather than refund her money, Blue Cross expected Raskind to recover the money from the overpaid physicians herself, Fogel told the court.
Raskind, who said she had been treated poorly by Blue Cross representatives, was hesitant about going after her caregivers for the money. Instead, she sued Blue Cross in small claims court earlier this year for $758 she had spent in excess of her $4,000 yearly out-of-pocket maximum.
The pro tem judge who originally heard Raskind’s suit last fall continued the case to allow Blue Cross to coordinate the return of Raskind’s money. The trial was reset for Jan. 7, 2003, and Fogel was ordered to personally ensure that Raskind’s financial situation was straightened out.
As of the second court date, all but about $10 of the $758 had been returned to Raskind. Though Fogel assured the court the rest of Raskind’s money was coming, Commissioner Donna Groman awarded Raskind a $10 judgment, plus court costs.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 13, 2003. Read the original PDF.