“Cigna and Anthem told members that they would need to obtain a court order or subpoena to access their claim file records.”
Federal rules give most people with employer insurance their claim file within 30 days. Twelve of the readers ProPublica followed blew past that deadline, and five had waited more than 70 days. Cigna wanted a subpoena from the mother of a 4-year-old denied speech therapy. Four of five insurers coughed up the files only after reporters called. The law works fine, as long as you bring a newsroom.