When facing a life insurance claim denial, the stakes are high and the complexities of ERISA law demand specialized legal expertise. Hiring the wrong attorney can exacerbate an already stressful situation, leading to lost appeals and further heartache.
What Happens if an Insurer Denies My Life Insurance Claim?
Stephanie Morris, a Virginia widow, faced a heartrending legal battle against Lincoln National Life Insurance Company following the death of her husband, Stephen. Diagnosed with leukemia, Stephen passed away in 2015. His employer’s life insurance policies, underwritten by Lincoln, became Stephanie’s hope for financial stability.
However, Lincoln denied her claim, arguing Stephen wasn’t “actively at work” and was “totally disabled” when the policies took effect. Stephanie’s fight, steeped in the complexities of insurance law and the interpretation of policy terms, wasn’t just a quest for benefits—it was a struggle for dignity and fairness.
The Right to Your Denied Long-Term Disability Claim File
Aetna thought it could get away with not providing the claim file to a claimant, who, at that time, was trying to handle her claim on her own. Listen to the oral arguments in the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond Virginia as long term disability attorney Ben Glass explains why Aetna insurance company violated ERISA’s rules when it refused to hand over the claim file to an unrepresented (at that time) claimant.