Aetna Strikes Class Deal Covering Patients’ Spinal Surgeries

Aetna Life Insurance Co. negotiated a classwide settlement that allows patients to receive up to $55,000 for spinal surgeries they say the insurer wrongly categorized as experimental and thus not covered.

The proposed deal covers 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. The total value of the settlement is “difficult to quantify,” but Aetna has denied more than $7.1 million in relevant claims, according to a motion seeking preliminary settlement approval from Judge Andre Birotte Jr.

• The deal, announced Wednesday ...