A federal judge in Newark, New Jersey has ruled that a class-action lawsuit against the Aetna insurance company can proceed. The lawsuit specifically targets Aetna's policy on eating disorders and seeks to force them to improve their benefits coverage.

"The crucial issue... is whether eating disorders are biologically based mental illnesses (BBMI), for which insureds are entitled under contracts and state laws around the country to a higher level of coverage than is provided for purely mental conditions."

At the center of the lawsuit is father Frank De Vito, whose daughter was denied coverage for eating disorder treatment. Aetna called the treatment "not medically necessary." Read more at Law.com.

Labels: health_care, insurance, mental_illness