Chicago Woman Charged with Health Care Benefits Fraud

Police said a woman tried to use someone else’s health care benefits at Little Company of Mary Hospital and Health Care Centers.

According to police reports, Dejanee Koonce, 22, of Chicago, was charged with health care benefits fraud for attempting to receive health care benefits from Little Company of Mary, 2800 W. 95th St., by providing false insurance information. Police said she provided the name of a cousin, knowing that the cousin has public aid insurance.

The hospital called police because Koonce used insurance information and signed forms with a different name than she printed on the form, police said. The hospital clerk said Koonce had no form of identification and gave an excuse that she wasn't paying attention when she signed her sister’s name.

The hospital signed a complaint for fraud, police said. When Koonce was taken to the police station, she said she had stomach pains. The hospital would not say what was wrong with Koonce, citing the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.