Ohio Agent Loses License for $200,000 Claim Payment Theft

Ohio Insurance Director Ann Womer Benjamin announced that insurance agent Steven Goodyear agreed to the revocation of his insurance license, effective immediately.

Goodyear signed a department consent order in which he reportedly admitted that he misappropriated $200,279.43 that was intended to pay medical claims for Perry County’s self-insured health benefits plan. From November 1995 to June 1999, Goodyear, acting as Perry County’s health insurance agent reportedly failed to have Perry County’s account fully credited for payment of the health insurance premiums after having received checks of $80,000 and $120,279.43.

In the Perry County Court of Common Pleas, Goodyear pled no contest and was found guilty in open court on one count of felony theft. Goodyear also made partial restitution and is expected to pay an additional sum before he is sentenced at a later date.