If you pay life insurance premiums on a monthly basis, you expect to receive benefits if your family member passes away. Sadly, many life insurance companies deny legitimate claims, leaving individuals like yourself without the benefits they need to support themselves.
The good news is that our Baton Rouge life insurance lawyer can handle the entirety of your case and fight for the benefits you deserve.
At ERISA Insurance Claim Attorneys, we have over 30 years of experience handling cases like yours. We'll provide the information you need to understand your case and represent your best interests throughout the process.
If you pay life insurance premiums on a monthly basis, you expect to receive benefits if your family member passes away. Sadly, many life insurance companies deny legitimate claims, leaving individuals like yourself without the benefits they need to support themselves.
The good news is that our Baton Rouge life insurance lawyer can handle the entirety of your case and fight for the benefits you deserve. At ERISA Insurance Claim Attorneys, we have over 30 years of experience handling cases like yours. We'll provide the information you need to understand your case and represent your best interests throughout the process.
Understanding Your Life Insurance Policy
While life insurance policies are meant to provide you with useful benefits in the event that an insured family member passes away, many insurers don't want to help at all. In fact, insurers are always looking out for their own bottom line, which means they'll do whatever they can to deny your claim and avoid paying the benefits you deserve.
Insurance companies often deny valid life insurance claims. When benefits are denied to a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, it is important that they understand the fine print of the life insurance policy before they file a claim or appeal. Working with a knowledgeable Baton Rouge life insurance attorney can help you understand your policy.
The Terms and Conditions of Your Policy
Reviewing the terms of your life insurance policy can help you gain a deeper understanding of the benefits you're owed and how to claim them.
That said, life insurance plan documentation can be filled with confusing jargon, making them almost impossible to understand. That's why insurers must also provide you with a Summary Plan Description (SPD).
An SPD outlines the benefits you're entitled to, provides information about filing a claim and appealing a denied claim, and offers information on important rules.
Upon request, the insurance company must provide you with a copy of the SPD and plan document. Once you have both, review your life insurance claim details.
It's also recommended that you request medical records, death certificates, autopsy reports, and other documents to support your claim and resolve any eligibility uncertainties. A skilled life insurance attorney in Baton Rouge can guide you through this process and ensure all steps are completed correctly.
Life Insurance Claim Denials
If your life insurance claim has been denied, you're probably frustrated and confused about why it was denied. Luckily, our life insurance lawyers in Baton Rouge can assess your unique situation, determine why your claim was denied, and help you file a strong appeal. Insurers deny life insurance claims for many reasons, including the following:
- Not enough evidence
- Abuse of a controlled substance
- Policy lapses
- Failure to report a pre-existing condition
- Suicide
- More than one beneficiary has filed a claim
If your claim was denied for one of these reasons, you'll want to reach out to an experienced attorney soon. A lawyer can work hard to file a strong appeal, guiding you through the claims process until they've obtained your benefits.
Filing a Life Insurance Claim Appeal
The way you go about appealing a denied life insurance claim depends on who was in charge of paying the policy's premiums. If the policy is funded by an employer, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) applies. For personal life insurance claims, state laws govern the appeals process. Appeal procedures vary based on the laws in place.
For ERISA claims, you must complete an administrative appeal before filing a lawsuit. Strict deadlines and evidence rules apply, and introducing new evidence after the appeal is typically not allowed.
To avoid costly errors, consult a skilled Baton Rouge life insurance attorney before appealing a group life insurance denial. Our highly experienced attorneys can assess your case and provide the advocacy you need to get your benefits.
Incontestability and Life Insurance
Many states have incontestability laws that prevent life insurance companies from disputing coverage after a set time. Even if not required, an incontestability clause may appear in your policy.
Life insurance policies are generally contestable for two years. After this period, the insurer can't challenge coverage unless an exception, like premium non-payment, applies. If an insurance company denies a claim on an established policy, consult a Baton Rouge life insurance lawyer for help.
Types of Cases a Baton Rouge Life Insurance Lawyer Can Handle
Since 1995, our law firm has handled many different types of cases regarding life insurance and denied benefits. Depending on the details of your case, we'll have one of the following attorneys from our team help you:
- Baton Rouge intoxication exclusion lawyer: Our dedicated team can challenge denied insurance claims by proving intoxication wasn't a factor or disputing unfair policy exclusions in accidents or injuries.
- Baton Rouge accident death and dismemberment insurance claim denial lawyer: Our firm will fight wrongful claim denials, prove coverage eligibility, challenge exclusions, and negotiate with insurers for rightful compensation.
- Baton Rouge bad faith insurance claim lawyer: you can count on our skilled lawyers to hold insurers accountable for unfair denials, delays, or undervalued claims. We'll ensure you receive the compensation you're rightfully owed.
- Baton Rouge ERISA lawyer: Our attorneys will help you handle denied employee benefits claims, appeals, and lawsuits. We'll work hard to ensure compliance with federal laws and fight for rightful retirement, disability, or health benefits.
- Baton Rouge short-term disability lawyer: Our firm will assist you in appealing denied claims and ensuring eligibility for benefits. We'll have no problem with fighting insurers for the benefits you need to support yourself while you deal with your condition.
Schedule a Free Consultation With an Experienced Lawyer
Dealing with a confusing life insurance policy or a denied claim can be extremely challenging. Fortunately, the team at ERISA Insurance Claim Attorneys can provide the information and representation you need to get the benefits you and your family deserve.
Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a dedicated Baton Rouge life insurance lawyer. We'll meet with you to discuss your situation, answer any questions you have, and advise you on your best course of action moving forward.
