Jeraldine Crum-Vanlandingham v. Blue Cross

Robert G. Dowd, Judge Plaintiff, Jeraldine Crum-Vanlandingham (daughter of June Crim and conservator of her estate), appeals from the judgment of the trial court which found for defendants, Blue Cross Health Services, Inc. and Missouri Medical Service (Blue Cross), on plaintiff's petition for declaratory judgment filed as a result of defendant's refusal to make payment for medical expenses incurred by June Crum while a member of a group health plan issued by defendants. We reverse. The case was submitted on stipulated facts which are as follows. On April 30, 1978, June Crum became a member of the J. Louis Crum Group Health Plan issued by respondents to J. Louis Crum Corporation (Crum Corporation). June Crum is the widow of the former president of Crum Corporation and was not an employee of the corporation. As of May 1, 1982, group coverage was provided under the Comprehensive Package (Com-Pac) Program offered by respondents. A Com-Pac brochure, intended to summarize the Com-Pac benefits for members of the group plan, was given to June Crum. According to the brochure, copies of the master contract were to be kept at the employer's office and at the Blue Cross/Blue Shield office and were to be available for inspection during regular working hours.