Insurance Claim Denied Due to Racism, Lawsuit Says

By Daniel Hawn

Published on March 28, 2008

In her lawsuit, Leticia Correa-Perez, of Woodburn, says that she underwent emergency surgery to remove gallstones in 2004. To pay for the surgery, Correa-Perez and her family had come up with $39,578. They were under the impression that Correa-Perez's insurance policy, provided through her husband's former employer, Fleetwood Enterprises Inc., would cover the cost of the procedure. However, when Correa-Perez submitted her claim, she was denied due to a "pre-existing condition."

Correa-Perez challenged the denial; however, Fleetwood rejected her appeal and, according to the lawsuit, told her that Hispanics tend to have a lot of surgeries when they're insured.

Correa-Perez is suing Fleetwood, saying that she was denied coverage because of racism. Her lawsuit is being handled by Portland law firm Perkins Coie.

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