Renton family wins lawsuit after insurance company fails to cover autistic teen
Apr 1, 2012, 9:11 AM | Updated: Apr 2, 2012, 11:37 am
A Renton family has won a lawsuit that forces Primera Blue Cross to cover their son’s therapy for autism. John and Kirsten Griffen are also suing the company to pay for the therapy their son Aidan has already received.
For the past four years, 13-year-old Aiden has received occupational and speech therapy for autism after he was diagnosed at the age of eight. But in August, Primera canceled his treatment and sent his parents a bill for $24,000.
“There’s no moral reason why we should treat those people differently,” attorney Richard Spoonemore explained to KING TV. “If we give coverage for one we should get coverage for all and that’s what the [Mental Health] parity act in Washington says.”
John told KING-TV on Saturday that he was shocked when Primera announced that they were going to stop covering Aidan’s speech and occupational therapy.
“I remember talking to them on the phone and saying you can ruin a family like this if this is how your process works,” Griffen said.
Premera Blue Cross issued a statement saying, “Our plans are to fully comply with the state law that mandates coverage of neurodevelopmental therapy. All health plans in Washington are addressing challenges that seek to obtain greater coverage.”
The company Primera insists that the Griffins still owe them $24,000 for past therapy sessions. The Griffins disagree, and that matter is still working its way through the court.
