Progressive Preferred sued by couple over ER medical bills

An Edwardsville couple is suing a Madison County insurance company they claim failed to reimburse medical bills as promised.

Steve and Brittany Platt filed the lawsuit Dec. 22 in Madison County Circuit Court against Progressive Preferred Insurance Company.

According to the complaint, Brittany Platt was involved in a car crash in St. Louis in May 2010. The at-fault driver was allegedly insured by Progressive Preferred. Some time after the crash Brittany says she lost consciousness and was taken to Oliver Anderson Hospital in Maryville.

While she and her husband were in the hospital emergency room, they claim they received a phone call from a Progressive Preferred claims adjuster. After they told the adjuster they were going to submit a claim to their insurance provider, Carpenter's Health and Welfare Fund, the Platts allege the Progressive adjuster advised them not to do that. The Platts contend the adjuster promised Progressive would pay all medical expenses, including charges incurred during the emergency room visit.

After not submitting a claim to their own health insurance carrier and waiving coverage through Carpenter's, the Platts allege Progressive never paid the medical bills. The Platts say their expenses were in excess of $17,000. The couple says it has been forced to try to refinance their home to pay the balance.

The Platts accuse Progressive Preferred of breach of contract and ask for more than $50,000 in punitive damages, plus court costs. They are being represented by attorney John D. Wendler of Edwardsville.

Madison County Circuit Court Case No. 11-L-1423.