Insurance discrepancy leaves one man $60,000 in debt

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Story Published: Nov 21, 2008 at 6:24 PM MST

Story Updated: Dec 18, 2008 at 2:59 PM MST

By Hasti Taghi

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IDAHO FALLS - "They're literally threatening to take away the security that I've built for myself," says insured patient William Mclane.

Mclane is referring to a dispute with his insurance company over more than $60,000 dollars in medical bills.

"I was on my way to Cambridge British Columbia. I'd been driving 14 hours when I fell asleep going down a grade at the bottom of the road and my car went straight down the embankment. It flipped over 3 times," says Mclane.

In pain, and suffering from a neck injury, Mclane returned to Idaho and started treatment. After a failed attempt at physical therapy, he had no choice but to go under the knife.

"I was in eminent danger of being C-3 paralyzed. Which means you can't breathe," says Mclane.

"His condition was severe enough that he needed surgery," says Mclane's physical therapist, Nathan Hunsaker.

But after the extensive surgery to fix his crushed disks, the insurance company refused to pay their share of the medical costs.

"It's a no brain-er, they should pay," says Mclane.

"In my clinical judgment, whatever happened at the accident is what's causing the pain," says Hunsaker.

Oregon Mutual Insurance disagrees saying the pain was related to a previous condition and they are not liable to pay. I called them this afternoon but they told me the company's policy is to not talk to the media. They refused to answer my questions.
Nathan Hunsaker has seen this type of incident a few times and feels patients should be cautious when dealing with their insurance.

"Be in contact before you have things done. Make sure what is exactly going to be covered, what won't," says Hunsaker.

"After paying insurance premiums without a claim for 40 years, I'm absolutely reluctant, NO! I'm not gonna pay for the insurance company's part," says Mclane.

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