2nd Circuit Affirms Denial Of Benefits Based On Plan's Mental Illness Provision
NEW YORK - The Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Sept. 7 affirmed a district court's ruling that a disability insurer did not act arbitrarily and capriciously in relying on the American Psychiatric Association's definition of mental illness when determining that bipolar disorder is a mental illness and subject to the plan's 24-month cap on disability benefits for a mental illness (Marry Kim v. The Hartford Life Insurance Co., No. 17-2122, 2nd Cir., 2018 U.S. App. LEXIS 25389). (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - October 9, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news
Judge: ERISA Does Not Apply To Foreign Nationals Working Outside Of United States
PHILADELPHIA - After finding support for a disability claimant's argument that the Employee Retirement Income Security does not apply to foreign nationals working outside of the United States, a Pennsylvania federal judge on Sept. 27 rejected the insurer's argument that the claims are preempted under ERISA and remanded the disability claimant's suit to state court (Salih Bajrami v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co., No. 18-162, E.D. Pa., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 166098). (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - October 9, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news
Arbitrary, Capricious Standard Of Review Applies, Federal Judge Determines
PIKEVILLE, Ky. - An arbitrary and capricious standard of review applies in disability suit because the disability plan delegates discretionary authority to the insurer for the administration of claims made under the plan, a Kentucky federal judge said Sept. 18 (Regina Hurd v. Life Insurance Company of North America, No. 18-67, E.D. Ky., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 158595). (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - October 9, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news
Bad Faith Claim Against Disability Income Insurer Is Premature, Judge Says
TAMPA, Fla. - A Florida federal judge on Sept. 11 dismissed an insured's bad faith claim without prejudice after determining that the claim arising out of a disability income insurer's termination of benefits is premature (Susan Welsh v. General American Life Insurance Co., No. 18-1227, M.D. Fla., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 154487). (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - October 9, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news
Supplemental Disability Policy Not Part Of Employee Welfare Benefit Plan, Judge Says
MINNEAPOLIS - A breach of contract claim is not preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act because the supplemental disability policy at issue is not part of an employee welfare benefit plan under ERISA, a Minnesota federal judge said Sept. 14 in adopting a magistrate judge's recommendation to deny the insurer's motion for summary judgment (Matthew J. Christoff v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., No. 17-3515, D. Minn., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 157107). (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - October 9, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news
Disability Claimant Failed To Exhaust Administrative Remedies, Judge Says
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - A Tennessee federal judge on Sept. 25 granted a disability insurer's motion for summary judgment and denied a disability claimant's motion for summary judgment because the claimant failed to exhaust all administrative remedies before filing suit and failed to prove that exhausting all administrative remedies would have been futile (Lisa House v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America et al., No. 17-220, E.D. Tenn., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 164124). (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - October 9, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news
Disability Suit Will Remain In California; Transfer To Georgia Not Warranted
SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge on Sept. 24 denied a disability plan's motion to transfer a disability claimant's suit to Georgia, where the claimant lived and was treated for his disability, after determining that the claimant's choice of forum is entitled to some deference and that none of the convenience factors weighs strongly in favor of transferring the suit (Mark Ennis v. Aetna Life Insurance Co. et al., No. 18-1617, N.D. Calif., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 163442). (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - October 9, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news
Privacy experts say choosing life insurance tied to fitness tracking could have unintended consequences
Insurance giant John Hancock has announced a switch to 'interactive' life-insurance policies only, which offer incentives for things like wearing a fitness tracking device. Privacy experts worry these optional programs won't be optional don't the road. (Source: CBC | Health)
Source: CBC | Health - September 21, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: News/Business Source Type: news
Strap on the Fitbit: John Hancock to Sell Only Interactive Life Insurance Strap on the Fitbit: John Hancock to Sell Only Interactive Life Insurance
John Hancock, one of the oldest and largest North American life insurers, will stop underwriting traditional life insurance and instead sell only interactive policies that track fitness and health data through wearable devices and smartphones, the company said on Wednesday.Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - September 21, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Family Medicine/Primary Care News Source Type: news
John Hancock Wants To Turn Life Insurance Into A Wellness Game
(CNN Money) — John Hancock will give its life insurance customers a discount for trying to stay healthy. They just need to hand over some personal data to receive it.
The financial services company said Wednesday that it will attach a free version of its wellness program, Vitality, to all life insurance policies.
Through the program, customers can log fitness and health information with the company in exchange for discounts at places like Amazon and REI. For an extra $2 per month, customers receive a free Fitbit or an Apple Watch for $25. If they hit certain targets, they don’t have to pay more for the devices ...
Source: WBZ-TV - Breaking News, Weather and Sports for Boston, Worcester and New Hampshire - September 20, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Health – CBS Boston Tags: Boston News Business Health John Hancock Life Insurance Local TV Source Type: news
Want life insurance? You'll need to wear a fitness tracker, says John Hancock
John Hancock, one of the oldest and largest North American life insurers, will stop underwriting traditional life insurance and instead sell only interactive policies that track fitness and health data through wearable devices and smartphones, the company said Wednesday. (Source: CBC | Health)
Source: CBC | Health - September 20, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: News/Business Source Type: news
Want life insurance? You'll need to track your fitness, says John Hancock
John Hancock, one of the oldest and largest North American life insurers, will stop underwriting traditional life insurance and instead sell only interactive policies that track fitness and health data through wearable devices and smartphones, the company said Wednesday. (Source: CBC | Health)
Source: CBC | Health - September 20, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: News/Business Source Type: news
Want life insurance? You may want to track your fitness, says John Hancock
John Hancock, one of the oldest and largest North American life insurers, will stop underwriting traditional life insurance and instead sell only interactive policies that include optional fitness tracking through tools including wearable devices and smartphones, the company said on Wednesday. (Source: CBC | Health)
Source: CBC | Health - September 20, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: News/Business Source Type: news
John Hancock is out to prove life insurance isn't a dying industry
The Boston life insurance firm believes it can appeal to customers — especially young people — by offering a unique life insurance product that gives policyholders money back if they do things like eat healthy or exercise more. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)
Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines - September 20, 2018 Category: Pharmaceuticals Authors: Greg Ryan Source Type: news
Claimant Is Entitled To Reinstatement Of LTD Benefits, Federal Judge Says
TULSA, Okla. - An Oklahoma federal judge on Aug. 17 determined that a claimant's long-term disability (LTD) benefits must be reinstated because the denial of benefits is not supported by substantial evidence and was arbitrary and capricious (Shirley Kathy Redden v. Aetna Life Insurance Co., No. 12-16, N.D. Okla., 2018 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 139733). (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)
Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News - September 11, 2018 Category: Medical Law Source Type: news
