UnitedHealthcare reached a settlement with a cap of $6.75 million in a class-action lawsuit over coverage of proton beam therapy for cancer patients, according to a Dec. 12 court filing in the Massachusetts U.S. District Court.
Proton beam therapy is a form of radiation that targets a site and eliminates the cancer cells. The initial legal action cited the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, with claims for breach of fiduciary duty under employee health plans.
From the settlement, the insurer will pay up to $75,000 per claim for the treatment of prostate cancer, primary central nervous system cancer and cervical/gynecological cancer. The settlement also included revisions to UnitedHealthcare’s proton beam therapy policy.
The class counsel secured $2 million in attorney fees, and the class representatives each earned $25,000, as well.
Becker’s contacted UnitedHealthcare and will update this story if more information becomes available.
