Schleiger v. State

• Decision Date: 29 August 1977
• Docket Number: No. C-906,C-906
• Citation: 193 Colo. 531,568 P.2d 441
• Parties: Marvin E. SCHLEIGER and Margaret Schleiger, Petitioners, v. STATE of Colorado, Colorado State Hospital, Charles E. Meredith, M.D., Superintendent, Respondents.
• Court: Colorado Supreme Court

Page 441

568 P.2d 441

193 Colo. 531

Marvin E. SCHLEIGER and Margaret Schleiger, Petitioners, v. STATE of Colorado, Colorado State Hospital, Charles E Meredith, M.D., Superintendent, Respondents.

No. C-906.

Supreme Court of Colorado, En Banc.

Aug. 29, 1977.

Davis, Graham & Stubbs, Arthur E. Otten, Jr., Richard W. Daily, Denver, for petitioners.

J. D. MacFarlane, Atty. Gen., Jean Dubofsky, Deputy Asst. Atty. Gen., Denver, Joe T. Ulibarri, Regional Asst. Atty. Gen., Pueblo, for respondents.

CARRIGAN, Justice.

We granted certiorari to consider whether the state may take into account one's insurance coverage in determining "ability to pay" for state hospitalization costs pursuant to sections 27-12-101, et seq., C.R.S. 1973. We hold that under the applicable statutes the state may do so, and therefore we affirm the decision of the Colorado Court of Appeals in State v. Schleiger, Colo.App., 547 P.2d 1295 (1975).

The Schleigers' minor daughter, Pamela, was hospitalized at the Colorado State Hospital. During the period of hospitalization, Mrs. Schleiger, through her employer, was covered by group insurance which provided for reimbursement of hospitalization expenses incurred by her on behalf of her dependent children. She and her employer both contributed to the premiums for this insurance.

The State Hospital, acting pursuant to the controlling statute, ¹ determined that the actual costs incurred during Pamela's hospitalization were $5,240.86. Had the Schleigers been uninsured, the amount for which they would have been liable after determining their "ability to pay" according to the statute would have been $332.23. ² Recognizing the Schleigers' insurance coverage, however, the state allowed certain credits not at issue here and then assessed them for $4,729.79.

Although the Schleigers' insurance carrier was not a party to this action, as it certainly could have been, counsel conceded at oral argument that the company will honor its contract and pay the contested amount if the Schleigers are held liable.

The Schleigers contend that their insurance coverage should not be considered in determining their "ability to pay." In other words, they insist that their insurance only indemnifies them for hospital expenses after they are incurred, and that no obligation is finally incurred until the state has (1) determined the actual costs of hospitalization, (2) determined their "ability to pay," taking into account income and other factors, but not insurance, and (3) assessed them according to that ability to pay. Thus they argue that since their ultimate liability had they not had insurance would have been $332.23, the state cannot assess them for more by reason of the insurance coverage, even though the insurance would cover the full hospitalization costs. Finally, the Schleigers assert that even if insurance coverage normally should be considered in determining "ability to pay," the policy at issue here should not be so considered because it specifically excludes coverage for any charges imposed solely because of the existence of the insurance. We cannot accept this reasoning.

I.

The Court of Appeals' analysis is the most reasonable rationale available within the statutory framework set out in sections 27-12-101, et seq., C.R.S. 1973, and that analysis needs little clarification by this Court.

Simply stated, the statutory provisions establish the following process:

1. Liability to pay for the care of patients at the hospital is created by section 27-12-101, C.R.S. 1973.

2. An actual cost determination is made regarding each patient. Section 27-12-102, C.R.S. 1973.

3. In determining "ability to pay" for actual costs, or a portion of them, the department of institutions is required to consider as "available for payment" of the actual costs thus determined all "insurance and other benefits payable . . . ." Section 27-12-104(1), C.R.S. 1973.

4. The balance of those costs not covered by insurance are passed on to the patient and his spouse, who are assessed according to their ability to pay (determined by income and other factors). Section 27-12-104(2), C.R.S. 1973.

5. Any remaining costs not charged to the patient or spouse are charged to the patient's parents, based on their ability to pay. Section 27-12-104(3), C.R.S. 1973.

6. An assessment is to be made against persons found able to pay. Section 27-12-103, C.R.S. 1973.

Thus, the initial liability is for the actual cost of the care provided, and is incurred as the day-to-day expenditures are made. Nevertheless, under the statutory scheme, the State forbears from collecting that portion of the actual costs which exceeds the ability to pay when there is no insurance. See Graham v. Reserve Life Insurance Co., 274 N.C. 115, 161 S.E.2d 485 (1968). The statute clearly provides, however, that when there is insurance, the available limits are to be exhausted for payment of all costs before the uninsured balance to be collected directly from the patient is reduced in consideration of the patient's limited ability to pay.

This construction does not depart from our previous holding that these determinations and the assessments based upon them are conditions precedent to collection. Estate of Randall v. Colorado State Hospital, 166 Colo. 1, 441 P.2d 153 (1968). That case was decided before the statute required insurance to be taken into consideration in determining ability to pay. Here we are simply recognizing the statute's added requirement that the state apply insurance proceeds to the costs of hospitalization before reducing the patient's liability for payment.

The rationale here approved not only carries out the obvious legislative intent, ³ but also applies a rule that is fair not only to the state, but to the insurer and the insured as well. There is no evidence in the record that the insurance carrier charged lower premiums to those with very limited financial resources and therefore very limited "ability to pay" if their insurance were not applicable. In effect the Schleigers seek an interpretation which would allow the company to provide less coverage under the same policy for poor persons than for wealthy persons. Yet the policy terms and premiums are apparently the same for both.

The bottom line issue, therefore, is whether in circumstances such as those here presented, expenses of treatment at a state hospital are to be paid by the company which sold the policy or by the taxpayers. If the Schleigers' child had been treated in a private hospital rather than in the State Hospital, there would be no question raised: the insurance company would pay to the extent of its coverage. That was its contract for which it accepted the premiums. The fortuitous circumstance that the child was treated in a state institution rather than a private one should...