You Counted on Their Promise to Pay. Make Them Keep It.
We Have Been Making Them Keep Their Promises for 30 Years
As we age or manage chronic disabilities, planning ahead becomes more important than ever—especially when it comes to who will make decisions if we no longer can. Two common tools for planning are powers of attorney and guardianships. They both allow someone else to make decisions on your behalf, but they work very differently—and knowing …
Today’s video talks about how disability insurers can use allegations of non-compliance in disability claims as a way to deny benefits. Possibly the most common forms of “non-compliance” favored by insurers is when you choose to not follow your doctor’s advice.
Fearing serious side effects, or lacking the money to handle large medical expense, you might be justified in refusing to take prescribed medications, or deciding to not undergo recommended surgeries or treatments. But it is a sure bet the insurance company will do all they can to turn your decision against you as a way to dismiss your claim on the basis of non-compliance.
Bad faith insurance laws protect the public from unfair or fraudulent practices by insurance companies. These are state laws, and each state’s definition of bad faith and associated regulations varies.
With regards to disability benefits, bad faith law generally applies only to individual disability insurance policies that you personally buy through an insurance company agent or rep.
Like other recently disabled doctors and dentists, chances are you have considered suspending or deferring the specialty duties of your own occupation just so you can remain active in your practice. Be aware, the insurance company may use this against you.
The video above explains how insurance companies use every tactic they can to argue that claims for long term disability benefits are either undeserved or should be reduced. This occurs often with high-payout claims such as those for medical and dental professionals.
