Aetna’s Spinal Surgery Coverage Class Settlement Clears Hurdle

Aetna Life Insurance Co. received initial court approval for a classwide settlement allowing patients to receive up to $55,000 for spinal surgeries they say the insurer wrongly categorized as experimental and thus not covered.

The agreement is slated to cover at least 381 people whose claims were denied, along with certain other patients who paid out-of-pocket for the surgery or will have the surgery in the future. US District Court for the Central District of California Judge Andre Birotte Jr. granted preliminary approval to the deal and scheduled a March 27, 2026, final approval hearing in an order docketed Monday. ...