HM Life Insurance Company / HM Insurance Group
If you were wrongly denied benefits under an HM Life Insurance Company or HM Insurance Group disability claim, our attorneys can help you take swift legal action to get the benefits you deserve.
Employers often provide long-term disability (LTD) insurance and other benefits to their employees. If your employee disability benefits are being denied by HM Insurance, it is likely those claim disputes will fall under the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
To appeal the denial, ERISA requires that you follow strict procedures and rigid deadlines, according to the HM insurance plan. The process can be tough, but it is important that you do not give in!
Call disability attorney Marc Whitehead to learn how our law firm can assist. We offer a Free Case Evaluation, in which we help you understand all of your options.
Don’t delay. Get the facts you need to know how to best proceed with your claim. The right legal guidance can make the difference in your case.
About HM Insurance Group
The insurance world is full of intricate levels of organization, ownership and relationships. HM Insurance Group (HM) is one example of such a family tree. Basically, HM is a downstream subsidiary of Highmark Inc. The ultimate parent company is Highmark Health.
A subsidiary of HM Insurance Group is Highmark Casualty Insurance Company.
Other subsidiaries of HM include HM Life Insurance Company (HMLIC), HM Life Insurance Company of New York (HMLNY), HM Casualty Insurance Company, and various other management entities.
Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, HM Insurance Group sells insurance products and services to businesses and their employees. HM’s product line includes coverage for various health risk situations faced by employers, employees, health care providers and professionals.
For a free legal consultation, call 800-562-9830
Disability Income Plans under HM Insurance
Nationally, HM provides group supplemental insurance such as disability income insurance, critical illness, accident and hospitalization coverage, and term life products.
Short term and long term disability insurance plans are provided under their product line, “HM Worksite Advantage.” HM disability income plans allow employees to select a benefit amount in weekly dollar increments for a covered disability resulting from an accident or illness. Total and partial disability benefits are available.
HM also sells employer stop loss coverage, managed care and provider reinsurance. Individual insurance products include critical illness and accident insurance plans in some states.
Denied Disability Claims from HM Life Insurance
HM Life has had its share of claim denials. The following example case demonstrates HM’s wrongful handling of a claim under the abuse of discretion standard.
In the case of Sterio v. HM Life (9th Cir. Cal. Mar. 4, 2010) — An HM Life Insurance claim administrator was found to deny a valid claim for long term disability benefits, whereby HM Life abused its discretion in denying those benefits:
- HM Life Insurance did not conduct a satisfactory investigation into the disability claim
- The company denied the claim by alleging no objective medical evidence supports the claim, when in fact credible medical evidence was provided
- HM disregarded Social Security’s determination of total disability and award of disability benefits, thereby not taking relevant and useful evidence into account
- the insurer did not have meaningful dialogue with the claimant about specific evidence they needed in order to find in favor of disability
- On appeal, HM Life Insurance added a new reason for the denial.
Considering all factors, the Ninth Circuit concluded that HM Life’s denial of long term disability benefits was in opposition to the factual record. This case has been remanded to the district court to enter judgment in favor of the claimant.
Do not accept a HM Insurance disability claim denial as final. The issues listed above are just a few examples of how this insurance company resorts to denial tactics to avoid paying a valid claim.
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Disability Lawyers Making a Difference!
When illness or injury leaves you unable to work, you rely on your insurer to provide the LTD benefits you’ve paid for. The alternative can lead to devastating hardship. An insurance company that unreasonably denies or stops payments on legitimate claims must be held accountable.
Our law firm has represented claimants from all occupations and professions, and who have faced all manner of disabling conditions. We are prepared to help you appeal an unreasonable HM Insurance Group claim denial.
If you are preparing to file a claim, we provide long term disability application assistance. With so much at stake, don’t go it alone. If you need help today, call us at 800-562-9830 for a free case evaluation.
Call or text 800-562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form
