Aetna/The Hartford is an insurance company based in Connecticut. Aetna was founded in 1853 but was acquired by The Hartford in 2017. Though it has a rich history, Aetna/The Hartford has a record of wrongfully denying and delaying its clients’ disability insurance claims.
At Disability Insurance Law Group, we have more than 50 years of combined experience dealing with The Hartford’s various tactics for denying policyholders their rightful compensation. We know how to successfully navigate their claims process to get our nationwide clients the disability benefits they are entitled to.
While The Hartford is one of the largest disability insurance providers in the U.S., it has developed a reputation among many policyholders for making the claims process difficult. Claimants are sometimes asked to provide extensive medical records, physician statements, and documentation before the insurer determines whether benefits will be approved.
In some cases, the insurer may insist on proof that is difficult to obtain for certain medical conditions. For example, conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, anxiety, depression, and Long-Haul COVID may not always produce objective laboratory findings. Despite this, claimants may still be asked to provide physical or measurable evidence of their limitations.
Additionally, most disability insurance policies do not require claimants to prove their condition solely through objective testing. Instead, disability claims are typically evaluated based on a combination of medical records, physician opinions, functional limitations, and the claimant’s ability to perform the duties of their occupation.
Although the company has annual profits of around $30 billion, many policyholders feel that insurers sometimes seek to limit or delay payments even when a claimant has provided extensive documentation.
Understanding how The Hartford evaluates disability claims can help claimants respond effectively if their claim is delayed or denied.
Like many large disability insurers, The Hartford carefully reviews claims before approving long-term disability benefits. This review process may involve reviewing medical records, consulting internal medical consultants, and requesting additional documentation.
Some of the most common issues raised in Hartford disability claims include:
For claimants who are already dealing with serious health conditions, these issues can create confusion and frustration. Many individuals believe they have submitted all required information, only to receive a denial stating that additional evidence is needed.
One tactic that sometimes arises in disability insurance claims involves surveillance of claimants.
Insurance companies may hire investigators to observe or record a claimant’s activities outside the home. This surveillance may involve video recording in public places or reviewing social media activity.
The purpose of surveillance is often to determine whether a claimant’s daily activities appear inconsistent with the limitations described in the disability claim.
For example, insurers may review whether a claimant:
However, short video clips or photographs do not always provide a complete picture of a person’s medical condition. Many disabling conditions fluctuate, and individuals may experience periods of limited activity followed by severe symptoms.
When surveillance footage is used to question a claim, carefully explaining the medical context and limitations can be an important part of responding to the insurer’s concerns.
Another issue that sometimes arises in Hartford disability claims involves allegations that the claim file lacks sufficient documentation.
Claimants may submit extensive medical records, physician reports, and other supporting materials, yet still receive a denial stating that the evidence is incomplete or does not fully support the claim.
These situations can occur when:
Responding to these denials often requires carefully reviewing the claim file and identifying any additional evidence needed to clarify the claimant’s condition and functional limitations.
In our practice, we have achieved numerous victories against The Hartford. We recently appeared before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, which ruled in our client’s favor. The court determined that their denial of our client’s disability insurance claim was both wrong and unreasonable.
This is just one of the many triumphs we have had against Aetna/The Hartford, given our attorneys’ combined five decades of experience, and against many other powerful insurance companies.
Our attorneys understand how disability insurance companies evaluate claims and what evidence may be necessary to challenge a denial. We work closely with physicians, vocational experts, and other professionals to present a clear explanation of how a medical condition affects a person’s ability to work.
Receiving a disability claim denial can be overwhelming, especially when you are already dealing with a serious medical condition and loss of income.
If The Hartford denies a claim, the denial letter will usually explain the reasons for the decision and outline the steps required to file an appeal.
Before submitting an appeal, it may be helpful to:
For many ERISA-governed disability policies, the appeal stage may be the most important opportunity to submit additional evidence and address the insurer’s concerns.
At Disability Insurance Law Group, We Also Offer Insurance Claims For The Following companies:
If you have a disability insurance claim that The Hartford has refused to pay out, Disability Insurance Law Group may be able to help you. Our team has extensive experience taking on major corporations and helping our clients.
We understand how stressful it can be when an insurance company delays or denies benefits that you expected to rely on. Our attorneys work closely with clients nationwide to review their claim files, evaluate the insurer’s reasoning, and prepare strong appeals supported by medical and vocational evidence.
When you need legal help, call us at 954-324-2335 or email us to schedule a free consultation.
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