Aetna Life Insurance Co. must forfeit $1.5 million and donate $250,000 for health plan violations in Missouri, according to a settlement reached Tuesday.
The Missouri Department of Insurance took action against Aetna, the state’s sixth-largest health insurance company, that resulted in the largest insurance fine in the state’s history.
The $1.5 million fine will go into the state’s school fund, while the $250,000 donation is to a non-profit related to autism.
The settlement comes after Aetna admitted it had contracts within the state that covered elective abortions without an optional rider. Missouri law forbids this type of coverage unless a customer specifically asks for it and pays an additional premium.
The company also had plans that excluded coverage for autism diagnosis and treatment.
The state’s marketing regulation division became aware of potential violations at a pubic hearing on April 24, when a representative from a Missouri employer said Aetna included elective abortion coverage without the employer electing that coverage.
The next month, Aetna changed the policy and excluded family services, making that change retroactive to Sept. 11, 2011.
The company admitted it had contracts that covered elective abortions without a rider and that some plans excluded autism treatment, but said it didn’t know it violated Missouri law.
According to the settlement, Aetna agreed to audit its compliance with Missouri mandates and report the information to the state’s regulation department.
Abortions, Autism and Aetna – settlement reached in Missouri via IFAwebnews.com .
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