Humana Ordered to Pay in Coverage Dispute

Jurors in Palm Beach County Circuit Court ordered health insurer Humana Inc. to pay $1.29 million in compensatory damages and $78.5 million in punitive damages for having refused to continue to pay for speech and other therapy for an 8-year-old Florida girl with cerebral palsy. The girl’s father filed suit in October seeking more than $100 million in damages; the dispute stems from the family’s contention that Humana officials lied about whether the insurer would cover her therapy bills when they joined the plan in 1994. A judge had entered a judgment against Humana, finding the insurer deliberately ended the girl’s therapy coverage with a “reckless disregard to her well-being,” the Florida Sun-Sentinel newspaper reported Friday. “Humana believes the jury verdict to be erroneous and extremely excessive,” company officials said. “We will vigorously pursue an appeal.” Humana continues to provide medical coverage for the girl and only decided to end the treatments it did after doctors decided it was an appropriate move, a Humana spokesman said.