Bill aimed at holding health insurance companies accountable moves forward

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — A bill giving Oklahomans the right to sue medical insurance companies was given new life after first being stalled at the state capitol.

House Bill 2144 passed through the House floor with unanimous support in March, and it seemed the legislation was moving in the right direction, but as News 4 reported Wednesday, the bill was not heard in the Senate Judiciary Committee, leaving the bill in limbo as the deadline to hear bills was Thursday.

After our initial story aired, things changed; the bill was on the agenda for the Senate Rules Committee meeting.

It was heard Thursday morning and passed with overwhelming support, 17 to 2.

"I can't afford to take no, or I won't be alive, so it means a lot that people who don't have the voice or don't know what to do will have the back of this bill now," said Lacy Cornelius-Boyd, who was denied a transplant.

Cornelius-Boyd has been in a fight for her life, not just against her injuries, but against her insurance company.

After a devastating car crash, she lost nearly all of her intestines.

"The average person has 35 feet of intestines, and I have about 35 inches left," said Cornelius-Boyd.

Her insurance company has denied a transplant several times, and now her kidney and liver are failing.

"I have a five-year-old, so it's hard for her to know that mommy's sick and I just don't have a normal life anymore," said Cornelius-Boyd

Her story is one that pushed the bill now headed to the Senate floor. If it becomes law, it would create the Insurance Consumers Protection Act, giving those the right to sue medical insurance companies that deny or delay care in bad faith.

Some questioned and argued it could flood the courts and benefit more than just the patient, but supporters fought back.

"This is not about anti-insurance, and it's sure not about pro lawsuit, what this is about is pro citizen," said Sen. Darrell Weaver, R-Moore.

Sen. Carri Hicks also weighed in.

"There are very few patients who have the level of medical expertise to bring a compelling case, we also have to be mindful if patients are awaiting medical treatments, they are more than likely not at a financial position where they could also pay for that legal remedy," said Sen. Hicks.

For Cornelius-Boyd, it's never been about the money, she says it is about staying alive.

"I could care less about any amount of money. I want to be alive for myself, my husband, my family, my daughter. They deserve it and I deserve a chance to live," said Cornelius-Boyd.

If you would like to hear more about Lacy Cornelius-Boyd's story, click here.