A UnitedHealth subsidiary must pay $200 million to the family of a now-deceased Las Vegas man who was denied coverage of a lung cancer therapy treatment, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
The subsidiary, Las Vegas-based Sierra Health and Life Insurance, was originally sued in 2019 by the family of William Eskew, who purchased a Sierra Health plan in 2016 after being diagnosed with lung cancer.
Last week, a jury awarded $40 million to Mr. Eskew's estate and $160 million in punitive damages against Sierra Health.
The dispute arose after Mr. Eskew was recommended to undergo proton beam therapy for his cancer diagnosis, but Sierra denied coverage for the treatment.
The court documents say, "Without the proton beam therapy, Bill died on March 12, 2017."
"Sierra Health had a hidden policy and procedure to automatically deny any claim for proton beam therapy," Mr. Eskew's family attorneys told the Review-Journal. "They denied the claim without investigation, without consideration of the insurance contract and in knowing disregard of Nevada law."
A UnitedHealthcare spokesperson told the Review-Journal the company plans to appeal.
"We are disappointed by the jury's verdict," the company said. "The verdict and damages awarded do not reflect the facts of the case or the laws that apply here."