Ghost Networks Class Action: Carelon Behavioral Health
Pollock Cohen LLP and Walden Macht Haran & Williams LLP have filed a new class action lawsuit on behalf of more than 1 million patients against Carelon Behavioral Health. Carelon provides the mental health benefits to state and municipal employees who choose the Empire Plan under the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP). The lawsuit alleges the health insurance company scammed vulnerable customers by publishing an inaccurate directory of doctors who supposedly accepted the Empire Plan insurance but, in fact, did not.
This is the second ghost network lawsuit the firms have filed. In 2024, they sued Anthem HealthChoice Assurance of New York, also known as Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Both Anthem and Carelon are subsidiaries of the same parent company: Elevance Health of Indiana.
These misleading directories – known as “ghost networks” – not only waste people’s time but can result in people having to spend thousands of dollars on out-of-network doctors. And they can be dangerous, causing people to delay or abandon care.
The lawsuit focuses on access to mental health care for both adults and children. In the complaint, three plaintiffs share their anguish and frustration dealing with Carelon’s ghost network and detail their stories about calling countless doctors listed in Carelon’s directory that did not actually accept the Empire Plan.
We’d like to hear from you if this has happened to you.
There is absolutely no obligation, and all conversations are confidential.
Call or text (646) 517-0542 or email Ghost@PollockCohen.com for a free consultation.
Read the complaint here.
Read the news release here.
FAQs
A class action lawsuit is a way for a group of people who have suffered similar harms to bring a single collective case and share in any potential award. You become part of a group, with far more potential power than filing a lawsuit on your own—and at no cost to you.
Filing a class action lawsuit allows us to consolidate evidence, witnesses, and litigation expenses to make the lawsuit more efficient and effective. The collective “clout” of the class is typically far more effective than an action by any individual plaintiff.
No! The attorneys work on contingency, and only get paid if the case is successful. Any fees they may be awarded are determined by the court and paid by the defendant.
