Did Hartford Rightly Terminate the Claimant's Benefits Based on a 24-Month Cap Policy?

TUNE IN to find out why the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders), often seen as the ultimate guide, might not be as reliable as we think. Discover why re-evaluating these standards could be key to making insurance claims fairer.  The claimant, employed by the School of Visual Arts, began receiving long-term disability benefits from Hartford Life Insurance Company in May 2010 due to her bipolar disorder. Bipolar Disorder: This condition led to her becoming disabled in 2009, and she subsequently began to collect long-term disability benefits in May 2010. Bipolar disorder, classified as a mental disorder under the DSM-IV, was the primary reason for her disability​.In May 2012, Hartford terminated her benefits based on the Plan's 24-month cap for disabilities resulting from mental illnesses. The Plan, which incorporates the long-term disability insurance policy issued by Hartford, has a provision that limits benefits for disabilities resulting from mental illness to 24 months. Since bipolar disorder is listed as a mental disorder in the DSM-IV, Hartford applied this 24-month cap and terminated her benefits accordingly.The claimant filed an internal appeal, arguing that bipolar disorder is a biologically based illness and should be considered a physical condition, not subject to the mental illness cap.This is the oral argument in the 2nd circuit court of appealsThese public domain recordings are brought to you by Ben Glass Law, a national long term disability and life insurance firm headquartered in Fairfax, VA.By making these recordings into a "podcast," we've made the listening easier for claimants, attorneys and claims adjusters alike. If long term disability or life insurance benefits have been denied, we'd love to review your denial letter and give you a strategy for moving forward. This is a free service and you can go here to begin submitting your denial letter.