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MADISON - ST. CLAIR RECORD

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Woman sues insurer over unpaid inpatient care

A St. Clair County woman has filed suit against her insurance company, alleging it refused to pay for more than $80,000 worth of costs she incurred at an inpatient clinic.

Kathryn Schanot claims she was admitted to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital on July 13, 2008, for inpatient treatment.

From there, she was sent to Remuda Ranch in Arizona where she remained from July 31, 2008, through Sept. 14, 2008, according to the complaint filed Aug. 3 in St. Clair County Circuit Court.

According to its Web site, Rumuda Ranch is a Christian program that treats anorexia, bulimia and other eating disorders.

Throughout her treatment, Schanot was insured by United Healthcare, as she was a named dependent on Laurie Schanot's health policy, the suit states.

Schanot maintains that all of her doctors both before and after her treatment have confirmed inpatient care was necessary to treat her problem.

Despite that fact, United Healthcare refused to pay any charges Schanot incurred from Aug. 15 through Sept. 14, causing her to rack up medical bills of about $84,000.

She has been making payments on the money she owes to the center, but contends she should not be responsible for them.

"Defendant United Healthcare of Illinois Inc. has breached its contract with plaintiff by not paying on behalf of plaintiff the aforementioned charges, and by denying plaintiff's claim without good cause or proper review," the suit states.

In the four-count suit, Schanot is seeking a judgment of more than $200,000, plus attorney's fees, costs and other relief the court deems just.

Gregory L. Shevlin of Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer and Shevlin in Belleville will be representing her.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 09-L-407.

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