Ella Ingram (born ) Insurance case In 2015, Ingram won a landmark case for mental illness in Australia. Her victory over insurance giant QBE called for changes to discrimination laws. Ingram, from Melbourne, Australia, had booked a school trip to New York in 2011, however had to cancel on the advice of her psychiatrist due to severe depression. When she tried to claim on her insurance she was denied due to a blanket clause by QBE that said that mental illness was not covered. Diagnosed just before travelling, Ella had spent her life savings on this opportunity, only to be advised against it. On the 27 October 2015 Ingram contacted the Victorian civil and administrative tribunal (VCAT) and started a claim against QBE for discrimination against mental illness. The case was resolved in December 2015 where VCAT awarded AUD$4,292 to cover economic losses. A further AUD$15,000 was awarded for the hurt and humiliation caused to Ella, after the tribunal had found that “QBE had breached the equal opportunity act.”
|