LOS ANGELES — A Los Angeles County jury awarded more than $14 million this week to a woman who sued her health insurance provider alleging that the company's long delay in approving surgery for a painful condition led to her opioid dependency.
Health Net was ordered to pay $7.5 million in punitive damages and $6.9 million in compensatory damages after the jury found that the company had delayed or denied care without proper cause, resulting in harm to the plaintiff, Elaine Courtney.
Health Net, which also administers Medi-Cal health plans, said it was "exploring [its] options to appeal."
