Aetna Gets Spinal Surgery Coverage Suit Tossed, for Now

Patients accusing Aetna Life Insurance Co. of wrongly denying coverage for a common spinal surgery didn’t include enough specific information in their class action complaint, a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled.

Judge Cormac J. Carney of the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California dismissed Brian Hendricks’ lawsuit against the insurer, saying Hendricks’ complaint didn’t specify the health plan terms that entitled him to benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.

Carney gave Hendricks two weeks to file an amended complaint.

The lawsuit challenges how Aetna handles claims for lumbar artificial disc replacement surgery. Hendricks claims ...