Elder Law

Nursing Home Patients Signed Up for Insurance Without Their Knowledge

By Levin & Perconti

Nursing home abuse and exploitation takes many forms. The vulnerability of many of our elderly residents at these facilities make them prime targets for anyone who wishes to force themselves upon them because of their often mentally or physically weakness. The abuse can be physical, sexual, emotional, mental, or even financial.

For example, a recent case reported at Alabama Local News involves four nursing home residents being involuntarily enrolled in insurance programs that they did not want.

Officials in the state arrested Kimberly Bisslessi Eddins last week after evidence surfaced showing that she signed up four separate residents of the nursing home Coventry Health Care for insurance. In order to receive the commissions on the sales of these insurance packages, Eddins secretly signed up the vulnerable patients for insurance coverage starting in late 2008. In total, the fraudulent sales netted Eddins over $3,800 in commissions and cost the residents untold fees in premiums.

In is unclear form the report exactly how Eddins was able to access the necessary information from the residents to make the illegal sign-ups. She had gathered their names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers.

This latest form of exploitation of the elderly is just another example to be added to the many that our Chicago nursing home attorneys at Levin & Perconti have seen after decades of fighting for abused residents at these facilities. Most residents are brought into nursing homes specifically because it is assumed that they are too vulnerable to abuse, injury, and exploitation if they remain living without close supervision. However, as this and countless other examples demonstrate, the vulnerabilities of these residents continue to be taken advantage of while they live at the facility. In fact, being forced to live in substandard nursing facilities makes it even more likely that a residents? mental or physical state will be exploited. Be sure to keep a close eye on all the activities of your elderly loved ones, and contact a nursing home lawyer today if you suspect any problems with their care.

Full post as published by Illinois Nursing Home Abuse Blog on August 23, 2010 (boomark / email).