Ex-Dowling College Employee Says School Didn't Pay For Health Coverage

OAKDALE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- Some former employees at the recently-closed Dowling College say they are getting bills for medical procedures and other doctor's appointments because the institution never paid for their health insurance.

Former Dowling College employee Bonnie Forbes told WCBS 880's Sophia Hall she just recently found out that medical bills dated as far back as January were not covered by her health insurance -- even though a part of her paycheck went to pay for the coverage.

"I was going through medical treatment -- the thought I might have cancer," Forbes said. "I had all sorts of tests done, it's devastating."

Forbes said she believes she owes around $42,000 after going through a series of medical tests when doctors suspected she may have cancer.

"I went for all the testing assuming I had coverage -- I paid for the coverage, nobody told us we didn't have any coverage," Forbes said.

Forbes said other former staff members have said they were facing the same issues.

"We got a letter from Cigna, the medical provider, saying the claims were not being funded and that we would have claims we would be responsible for," Forbes said.

Dowling issued a statement, saying: "It was recently brought to Dowling's attention that there have been issues involving the processing of some health insurance claims. The college is working on the problem with the claims processor."

The Oakdale school is stuck under $54 million in debt and announced plans to shut down earlier this year.

After several attempts by the school to find a financial backer to keep them open, Dowling was dealt a major blow when it was announced that they were losing their accreditation.