A Small Claims Tribunal decision last week ordered Middlesea Insurance to pay the full Lm560 bill for surgery.

Joseph Cassar said he had surgery at St James in August last year and Middlesea, with whom he was insured, paid all his bills except for the one relating to specialist Louis Buhagiar, which amounted to Lm560. Middlesea told Mr Cassar it was ready to pay only Lm160 of Dr Buhagiar’s bill.

Middlesea however never appeared in court and the adjudicator, Dr Veronica Galea Debono, ordered the company to pay Mr Cassar the full Lm560.