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Disabled Upland Army Vet, 87, Leads Legal Fight After Health Benefits Allegedly Denied

UPLAND (CBS) — An elderly Army veteran from Upland is leading the charge against an insurance company on allegations the company denied him and other seniors their benefits.

KNX 1070's Ed Mertz reports Dr. William Hall is the plaintiff in a class action lawsuit against Senior Health Insurance Company of Pennsyvlania, or SHIP.

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"It has been a source of great anxiety to me," said the 87-year-old Hall, who served as a U.S. Army colonel and earned a Purple Heart in the Korean War.

Attorney William Shernoff said the problem first began when SHIP began "an insurance runaround" when the wheelchair-bound senior filed to receive payments for home care.

The complaint filed in San Bernardino Superior Court alleges that SHIP resorted to "abusive documentation practices" such as requiring multiple claim forms requesting duplicate information, forms authorizing SHIP to obtain medical records, proof of caregiver certification, and detailed daily caregiver notes.

Hall said he has paid $95,000 dollars every year since 2010 for home care and his attorneys said SHIP owes him thousands.

The attorneys also said they belive thousands of other seniors, all with similar insurance for home care, face similar tactics from ship.

"This case shows how bad the insurance industry is when it comes to treating the elderly," said Shernoff.

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