A lengthy history of discrimination by health insurers against claims involving behavioral health conditions and substance use disorders led Congress to pass the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act3 (MHPAEA) in 2008. 4[…]
When one thinks of disabling medical conditions, they usually imagine a number of physical diagnoses. […]
The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA)1 governs both retirement and welfare benefits2 (i.e., health, life, and disability benefits) provided by employers to their employees. […]
Can you work and qualify for disability insurance benefits at the same time? […]
Proton beam radiation therapy is used to treat various forms of cancer. Rather than using X-rays, proton therapy directs focused energy from protons at tumors. […]
A recently issued ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Tranbarger v. Lincoln Life & Annuity Co., addresses the fundamental issue of how courts should be adjudicating Employee Retirement Income Security Act cases.[…]
Employee benefit claimants’ entitlement to a full and fair review of claim denials prior to judicial intervention is embedded in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act.[1] Regulations promulgated by the
U.S. Department of Labor flesh out the specifics as to what constitutes such a review. […]
Proton beam radiation therapy is used to treat various forms of cancer. Rather than using X-rays, proton therapy directs focused energy from protons at tumors. […]
The start of every disability insurance claim is the completion of forms the claimants is required to submit to receive benefits. While the forms are ostensibly designed to be clear and straightforward, the questions asked on the disability insurance claim forms often confuse claimants, and ambiguities in disability insurance claim forms can lead to misunderstandings and delays in the processing of claims. […]
Many physical and mental conditions can prevent an individual from working on a regular basis. That is particularly true of a number of digestive disorders. If you suffer from a digestive disorder and plan to file a disability claim, it’s important that you be aware of how insurance carriers address these types of claims. […]
Both federal and state laws mandate parity in health insurance policies between physical and behavioral health conditions. However, mental health parity is not required in disability insurance policies by any state other than Vermont. […]
Every claim for disability insurance benefits requires the completion of three forms – the claimant’s statement, the employer’s statement, and the attending physician’s statement certifying the claimant’s disability. The claimant’s statement notifies the insurance company about what the claim is about and why the claimant is asserting an inability to work. […]