Connecticut Patients Describe Being Sued Over Medical Debt
A yearlong investigation by the Connecticut Mirror and KFF Health News involved interviews with more than three dozen Connecticut patients who were sued by hospitals and physician groups over medical bills. Most of the patients had jobs and health insurance, and nearly all said they wanted to pay what they owed. Patients described baffling bills, confusing health plan rules, and fruitless telephone calls to billing offices and insurers. Some faced liens on their homes or additional court fees. The analysis found that while most large hospital systems stopped suing patients during the covid-19 pandemic, more than 1,500 healthcare-related debt cases were filed in Connecticut courts in 2024. Christine Wood of Terryville was sued by Bristol Hospital over a $12,000 bill she believed was a mistake; she settled on a payment plan and later had a lien placed on her home. Another patient, Samantha Mantiera, was sued by Danbury Hospital for $10,000 she said she was erroneously charged, and the suit was withdrawn after she contested it.
What’s reported
Christine Wood received a $12,000 bill from Bristol Hospital after weight loss surgery in 2022, which she thought was a mistake; she said Aetna had told her the surgery would cost $5,000 out-of-pocket and she paid in advance.
Bristol Hospital sued Wood; she settled and agreed to pay the full balance on a payment plan of $150 per month. In January 2026, the hospital placed a lien on her home.
The Connecticut Mirror and KFF Health News interviewed more than three dozen Connecticut patients who were sued by hospitals and physician groups.
Most patients had jobs and health insurance; nearly all said they wanted to pay what they owed.
Kathy Holt, who leads the state Office of the Healthcare Advocate, said the agency fields thousands of calls yearly from residents with medical billing questions.
Sarah Ginnetti, chief revenue cycle officer at UConn Health, said the system ceased lawsuits in 2022.
Nuvance Health filed over 4,000 collection lawsuits from 2019 to 2024, accounting for more than a quarter of roughly 16,300 medical debt collection lawsuits identified in state court records.
Over 1,500 healthcare-related debt cases were filed in Connecticut courts in 2024.
Danbury Hospital sued Samantha Mantiera in 2024 over $10,000; the suit was withdrawn after she contested it, according to court records.
Aetna spokesperson Shelly Bandit stated that Wood had been notified of a $15,000 coverage limit for bariatric surgery, but Wood disputes this.
Conflicting accounts
The article describes a disputed claim between Christine Wood and Aetna: Wood said she was not notified of a $15,000 coverage limit for bariatric surgery, while Aetna spokesperson Shelly Bandit said she had been notified. Additionally, the article notes that providers and insurers blame one another for the system’s breakdown.
Open questions
It is unclear how many medical debt lawsuits arise from disputed bills, according to the article.
Key figures
Christine Wood, patient sued by Bristol Hospital
Samantha Mantiera, patient sued by Danbury Hospital
Kurt Barwis, CEO of Bristol Hospital
Kathy Holt, leader of Connecticut Office of the Healthcare Advocate
Sarah Ginnetti, chief revenue cycle officer at UConn Health
Nikki Schulz, chief revenue officer for Northwell’s Connecticut hospitals
Albert Peguero, Bristol Hospital spokesperson
Shelly Bandit, Aetna spokesperson
Eva Stahl, vice president of Undue Medical Debt
Sources: kffhealthnews.org
