How to File for an External Review of Your Denied Health Insurance Claim in Oklahoma
April 26, 2024
External Insurance Reviews Provide Hope Denied health care claims have, unfortunately, become commonplace, both in Oklahoma and across the country. In a never-ending effort to remain profitable, health insurance companies regularly delay, underpay, and outright deny claims, leaving individual policyholders unable to get the treatment they need or saddled with astronomical medical bills. If your health insurance claim has been denied it is important to recognize that the decision may not be final and that you do have recourse. The processes for internal appeals and external reviews can be complex. Insurance companies engage teams of individuals, including legal professionals, to minimize their expenses by defending their actions. If you are struggling with inappropriately paid claims, engaging lega... Read more
What Damages Can I Recover From an Insurance Bad Faith Case?
April 15, 2024
Bad faith actions by insurance companies are an unfortunate reality of today’s world. Every day these organizations make decisions that are not in the best interests of their policyholders; they are also simply unfounded and based on information designed to minimize reimbursement, therefore maximizing corporate profits. In short, their loyalties lie with their shareholders, not their policyholders. In Oklahoma, insurance companies are required to act in accordance with the terms outlined in the policies they issue and in good faith. This means that policyholders have legal recourse when claims are unfairly denied; insurance companies can be held liable for their bad faith actions. Those who were wronged may be entitled to settlements designed to compensate them for their losses. Understanding the D... Read more
Fighting Your Health Insurance Cancellation
April 12, 2024
Every day individuals living in Oklahoma receive notice that their health insurance policy has been canceled. Messages like this are frightening; we all rely on our medical insurance to protect our financial and personal well-being if and when we get sick. Not having coverage leaves our health at risk and our future vulnerable to the exorbitant costs of medical care. If you have been notified of a health insurance policy cancellation, you must take action. The reason for the cancellation can guide your actions going forward. Knowing what to do and how to do can be confusing. In many cases, working closely with a health insurance cancellation attorney can prove valuable. These professionals understand the laws governing insurance and know how to address issues as they arise. You want to approach this ... Read more
Bad Faith Tactics with Car Insurance Claims
April 2, 2024
Has your car insurance company unreasonably and unfairly denied your damage claim? If so, you are not alone. Unfortunately, these refusals to pay happen all of the time. You see, insurance company claim departments too often create a culture among their adjusters that encourages them to do whatever it takes to pay less on the claims of the company’s policyholders, even when that means engaging in unreasonable and unfair claim handling practices. These bad faith tactics are unethical and may, in fact, be illegal. Quite often policyholders are unaware of the fact that the law requires insurance companies to treat them in compliance with the duty of good faith and fair dealing. Therefore, when their insurance company delays and underpays their claims, they simply accept the offers as final. They do not belie... Read more
Write a Health Insurance Claim Denial Appeal That Works
March 26, 2024
Health insurance claim denials are a problem that many in Oklahoma City and across the state deal with daily. Health care is costly. When claims are denied, one of two things results: either the individual whose claim was denied does not receive the medical care they need, or the financial burden of paying for necessary treatment falls upon the individual themselves. When a claim is unfairly denied, neither option is acceptable. Unfortunately, many simply don’t know how to respond appropriately. In cases like this, addressing the denial with an appeal letter is the first course of action. Completing this task appropriately is important, as errors in the process may result in the insurance company’s refusing to review your case or denying your claim once again. Engaging the assistance of a health... Read more
Aetna to Pay $3.4 Million in Proton Therapy Case
March 14, 2024
Aetna Denied Coverage of Proton Therapy Cancer Treatment for 142 Patients According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), more than 1.6 million individuals are diagnosed with cancer each year, with over 600,000 losing their battle. Understanding this, it’s no surprise that considerable resources are focused on research and new treatments constantly arise. Proton beam therapy, a relatively new radiation treatment, has proven successful in treating a range of cancers; it is safer and more effective than X-ray or photon-based treatments. Thus, oncologists across the country are relying on it to help their patients. Unfortunately, insurance companies commonly reject health insurance claims for this treatment, negatively impacting the health of their policyholders. In one instance, Aetna, in particu... Read more
Did Your Auto Insurance Company Act in Bad Faith?
March 8, 2024
Each year, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners tracks the top reasons why insurance customers complain about their auto insurance coverage… and each year, “denial of claims” makes the top three. It’s not surprising that every day in Oklahoma auto insurance companies deny and delay claims. In some cases, their decisions are warranted, but in many others they are acting in bad faith. When you purchase your car insurance policy in good faith, and pay your premiums on time, you expect that your claims will be paid expeditiously and in accordance with your policy. Unfortunately, this doesn’t always happen. It’s not surprising that if you receive a denial letter you are frustrated. Understanding the reasoning behind the denial is key to knowing what to do. Individuals living in ... Read more
Which Health Insurers Deny the Most Claims?
March 5, 2024
If you paid your health insurance premiums on time, believed the treatment you received was covered, and submitted your claim correctly, you likely assumed it would be paid appropriately and in a timely fashion. A denial of the claim would likely leave you frustrated at the process and worried about your financial responsibility. These concerns are real . . . but there is good news. You do not have to accept your insurance company’s denial as final. There are steps you can, and should, take. Knowing what to do and who you can rely upon for help is the first step toward appealing your claim. Health Insurance Claim Denials Are Common The Kaiser Family Foundation Tracked Insurers’ Denial Rates Insurance claim denials are aggravating; if you have experienced this you know exactly what we mean. Unfortunat... Read more
Why Do Insurance Companies Take So Long To Pay Out?
February 12, 2024
In a perfect world, everyone would get their insurance payout within a few days of filing their claim. We don’t live in a perfect world, though. If you’ve ever filed a claim with an insurance company, you know that it can take weeks, months, or sometimes even years to receive a payout. In some cases, it might even feel like the insurance company is intentionally delaying your claim. What Happens During the Insurance Claim Process? One reason why insurance companies can take so long to pay out is that the claim process can be pretty complicated. Here are the typical steps involved: Connecting with the Insurance Company The first step is always getting in touch with either your or the responsible party’s insurance provider. This is the beginning of the claim filing process. Investigating... Read more
How Do I Prove a Bad Faith Insurance Denial?
January 15, 2024
Insurance policies are designed to provide a safety net during times of need. However, there are instances where an insurance company may act in bad faith, meaning they fail to fulfill their contractual obligations to policyholders. Proving bad faith insurance handling is a challenging but essential process if you believe your insurer is not acting in your best interests. The dedicated team at Doug Terry Law is committed to helping clients hold insurance companies accountable for their actions. With our experience in insurance law, we stand by your side to ensure you receive the coverage and compensation you rightfully deserve. What Is Bad Faith in Insurance? The term “bad faith“ describes an insurance provider that is attempting to renege on its obligations to a client. They may do this by refus... Read more
