Aetna agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the health insurer of categorically denying depression treatment claims, according to Law360.
The lawsuit in Connecticut federal court accused Aetna of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by denying claims for transcranial magnetic stimulation, a treatment for major depression. The $6.2 million settlement, which U.S. District Judge Janet C. Hall approved Feb. 15, would end the litigation.
Once attorneys' fees and other costs are deducted, patients and families who paid out of pocket for the treatment may be able to collect about 70 percent of what they would have received if their claims were reprocessed, according to Law360. All class members are expected to receive at least $1,500 under the agreement.