disability coverage – OLHI – Free, impartial help with your life & health insurance complaints

Harold B. suffered a severe health problem related to his kidneys and had to have one removed. Worried about his clients, Harold returned to his job as soon as he felt able after the surgery.

When Harold returned to work, he had to periodically reduce his work hours and was never able to work full-time again because of his health. Nearly two years later, Harold quit his job and submitted a total disability claim to his individual disability insurance provider.

The insurance company denied the claim, even after Harold appealed the decision. At this point, Harold came to the OmbudService for Life and Health Insurance.

OLHI reviewed the complaint and learned:

  • Harold’s policy only covered losses for “total disability.”
  • He had returned to work part-time and before he completed the waiting period required by his policy.
  • Harold submitted his final claim after the policy deadline.
  • The insurer’s decision strictly followed the policy’s terms, but the company could have communicated the process earlier and more clearly to Harold.

As OLHI cannot consider damages or extenuating circumstances outside of insurance policy, we advised Harold to consider pursuing his complaint in court with a disability lawyer.

Disclaimer: Names, places and facts have been modified in order to protect the privacy of the parties involved. This case study is for illustration purposes only. Each complaint OLHI reviews contains different facts and contract wording may vary. As a result, the application of the principles expressed here may lead to different results in different cases.

Ms. V. was being treated for major depression and anxiety disorder. Her insurer accepted her disability claim on the basis that she was not able to perform the essential duties of her job as an office manager of a busy, professional firm.

Midway through that benefit period, the insurer discontinued her group benefits because Ms. V. opted to try to start her own business out of her home. The insurer’s final position was that the objective medical evidence on file suggested that her impairment was not sufficiently severe to prevent her from returning to her pre-disability job.

Ms. V. contacted OLHI for an independent, free review of her case. Our Dispute Resolution Officer (DRO) gauged that the diagnosis, symptoms and treatment hadn’t changed from the period during which Ms. V. received disability coverage. For this reason, he recommended the case be investigated by an OmbudService Officer (OSO).

OLHI’s OSO reviewed the file and questioned how, with the evidence on file, the insurer could conclude that Ms. V. was able to resume performing the skills of her prior demanding, managerial role.

The OSO contacted the insurer, asking them to consider that a job as an office manager of a busy firm could not be equated with a home business. He also suggested that the medical evidence was clear that Ms. V.’s condition had not changed between the last day of paid benefits and the first day of denied benefits.

Upon further discussion and review, the insurer agreed and provided Ms. V. with payment for the period that correlated with her inability to perform the essential duties of her job.

 

Disclaimer: Names, places and facts have been modified in order to protect the privacy of the parties involved. This case study is for illustration purposes only. Each complaint OLHI reviews contains different facts and contract wording may vary. As a result, the application of the principles expressed here may lead to different results in different cases.

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