Tens of thousands of uninsured patients may qualify for up to $3.5 million in refunds on payments they made to eight Chicago and suburban hospitals under the preliminary settlement of a class-action lawsuit.
Tens of thousands of uninsured patients may qualify for up to $3.5 million in refunds on payments they made to eight Chicago and suburban hospitals under the preliminary settlement of a class-action lawsuit. A judge must approve the settlement at a hearing scheduled for Feb. 25. The settlement extends current hospital practices to patients dating back to November 2000, said Advocate Health Care spokeswoman Kelly Jo Golson said Wednesday. Notices went to 170,000 patients who may qualify, she said. Attorney Tom Geoghegan filed the lawsuit in 2003, claiming not-for-profit Advocate hospitals overcharged uninsured patients. Oak Brook-based Advocate is the largest provider of medical care in the Chicago area. Geoghegan, who supports a universal single-payer health care reform plan, is running for Congress as a Democrat in the 5th District. The Chicago hospitals included in the settlement are Advocate Bethany Hospital, Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and Advocate Trinity Hospital. The suburban hospitals are Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Barrington, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest. Refund amounts will be determined by family income and the amount of the medical bills. ______ Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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