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Chicago Health Insurance Lawyers
Helping clients throughout Chicago by demanding justice in bad faith insurance litigation
You pay your monthly health insurance premiums because you know that with the skyrocketing costs of health care, you would be unable to pay for the care you or your children might require if they were injured or required medical care for an illness or disease. You expect that your health insurance policy will kick in and cover the medical costs that it says it will cover, but sometimes you end up in a dispute with your health insurance company about a denial of coverage for a legitimate healthcare expense. It can feel daunting to go up against a massive corporation who seems to view you simply as a policy number.
At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, we work to level the field for our clients when it comes to holding health care insurers responsible for covering legitimate healthcare claims that are covered in the insured's policy. Our Chicago health insurance lawyers are thoroughly familiar with health insurance contracts, we are skilled negotiators and we can take on the challenge of holding the insurance company responsible for upholding their part of the contract.
Some of the health insurance companies that serve the Chicago area that our clients have worked with include:
- AARP
- Allstate Insurance
- BlueCross BlueShield of Illinois
- Cigna Healthcare – Illinois
- Humana Inc.
- General Insurance Agency
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What is health insurance?
Health insurance is a type of insurance policy that covers the medical expenses of the person who purchased the policy (and their dependents if it is a family plan). Instead of paying for every medical expense out-of-pocket, the policy covers certain health care expenses such as, office visits to a doctor, surgery, emergency room visits and prescription medications. Depending on the type of plan, the insured is responsible to pay a monthly premium, and make a co-payment for certain types of care. With certain plans, the insured would be responsible to satisfy a deductible, which is an initial payment to the insurance company before the insurance company will cover their medical expenses.
How much is the fine for not having health insurance?
In 2010, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law by then President Barack Obama. Also called, "Obamacare," the ACA virtually transformed the way Americans access health insurance. Now, with the new presidential administration, health care is poised to go through another major shift. Until the new health care plan goes into effect, Americans are still subject to the ACA, which requires everyone who can afford it, who does not receive health insurance as an employment benefit to purchase it or pay a penalty. The fee that Americans will be charged when they pay their taxes is either a percentage of annual household income, or a specified amount for each person in the household who is not insured. You can find out what that penalty might be for you or if you qualify for an exemption at Healthcare.gov.
Disputes with health insurance companies
Health care coverage disputes are growing more common and they will continue to do so as the whole landscape of health care changes. Some of the common factors in health insurance disputes include the following:
- Wrongfully denied claims for benefits
- Denial of coverage for hospitalization or a legitimate medical procedure
- Inaccurate charges for services
- Refusal to cover innovative treatment options
- Refusal to cover care for psychiatric conditions
How do I resolve a health insurance dispute?
If you have a dispute with your health insurance company, your first steps might be to try to resolve it on your own. After reading your health care plan policy documents and verifying that the procedure or service should have been covered according to the plan, you can contact your insurers customer service department and request a review of your case. Point out the places in the contract that their denial seems to conflict with. If the problem is the denial of coverage, ask that the insurer send you a notice of denial that articulates why they are refusing to authorize coverage.
If the insurance company continues to uphold the denial of your claim after you have appealed it, you can file a complaint with the Illinois Department of Insurance, and then you may want to contact an experienced health care insurance dispute attorney from Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers who will be an aggressive advocate for your case against the insurance company.
Illinois law requires that insurers have a duty of good faith and fair dealing with their insureds. If your insurance company's behavior can be considered insurance bad faith practices, you may be entitled to economic damages, the emotional distress that the denial caused, and in some cases punitive damages.
The trusted Chicago health insurance attorneys at Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers are prepared to obtain justice on your behalf when you are being treated unfairly by your health care insurance company.
Schedule a consultation with an experienced Chicago health insurance lawyer today
With more than 20 years of experience serving clients in Chicago, Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers is prepared fight for your interests when you are forced to go up against a giant health insurer in a legal dispute. At Gainsberg Injury and Accident Lawyers, our Chicago lawyers fight for all the proceeds provided for in your policy and compensation for wrongfully denying your claim. Please contact us at 312-600-9585 or fill out our contact form to get answers now.
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