Many people in Florida and elsewhere in the country have faced serious hardship after their applications for disability benefits were denied by their insurance companies. One firm, Life Insurance Co. of North America, was found to be liable in its treatment of a woman with chronic pain to whom it denied disability benefits. The insurer is a subsidiary of Cigna, a larger life and health insurance firm with customers across the country. A U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit decision ordered the company to pay the woman's attorney's fees after she was wrongfully denied benefits.
When insurance companies deny professional disability claims
A professional may face difficulties when attempting to bring a claim to a disability insurer. Doctors, lawyers, business owners, and other skilled professionals work hard and spend significant sums of money to make sure they have disability insurance policies that will protect their family and financial well being should an injry or illness prevent them from being able to work. Despite timely paying premiums, when the time comes to file a claim after an accident, injury or significant health event, the insured too often faces delays, ongoing requests for information, and a denial of claim. Disability insurance companies, while happy to take premium payments, look for reasons to deny benefits, especially for high-earning professionals.
