Did your health insurance company recently deny a claim that you made? If so, you may be entitled to file a lawsuit against them.
Before you do, though, there are certain steps you’re going to want to take. Filing a lawsuit against an insurance company can cost thousands of dollars and take up months of your time. Make sure it’s worth doing it.
Here are five tips that’ll help you when suing an insurance company.
1. Read Through Your Insurance Documents With a Fine-Tooth Comb
People sign up for all kinds of different insurance policies. From health insurance and life insurance to auto insurance and long-term disability insurance, there are many types of insurance you should consider getting.
But the problem with signing up for so many insurance policies is that it can make it hard to keep up with what your various policies cover.
Prior to suing an insurance company, read through your insurance documents to make sure you’ve been wronged by the company. You might be under the impression that your policy is supposed to cover something it doesn’t.
If that turns out to be the case, you could waste a lot of time and money suing your insurance company without a valid reason. You can learn a lot by digging into your insurance documents.
2. Give Your Insurance Company a Chance to Do the Right Thing
Most insurance companies aren’t afraid to go to court and face a lawsuit when they know they have the upper hand. They have teams of lawyers set up to represent them and get the best possible outcome in court.
But most insurance companies will also try to do the right thing if you’re able to successfully appeal a denied claim. If you can show why you believe a claim was valid, they’ll often at least think about reversing their original decision.
Try not to take your fight right to court when you receive a denied health insurance claim. Instead, contact your insurance company and allow them the opportunity to do right by you before you file a lawsuit.
3. Hire a Lawyer to Represent You
Has your health insurance company dug in their heels and told you they’re not going to honor an insurance claim you made? Start looking for a lawyer.
Your lawyer should be:
- Experienced when it comes to handling lawsuits related to insurance claims
- Prepared to devote the necessary time and energy to representing you during your lawsuit
- Convinced you have a strong case worth fighting for in court
It’s important to have a lawyer who believes in your case by your side throughout the duration of it.
4. Make Sure You Have Some Money Stashed Away
Most of the lawyers who work with those filing lawsuits over denied insurance claims work on a contingency basis. You won’t have to give them a single cent unless you win your case in court.
But you may have to shell out some money to pay for expert witnesses and other services pertaining to your lawsuit. It’s good to have money set aside for your court battle with an insurance company.
5. Keep Track of Every Interaction You Have With an Insurance Company
From the moment you start calling your insurance company to complain about a denied claim, keep track of every interaction you have with them. A judge is not going to look favorably upon your case if you can’t remember how things played out.
Write down:
- The days and times when you contact your insurance company
- The names of the insurance company representatives you speak with
- The things you speak about with the representatives
The more information you can put together for your lawyer, the better. They’ll be able to use it to represent you in court.
You Can Have Success When Suing an Insurance Company
Suing an insurance company is not an easy thing to do. Insurance companies are used to going to battle with customers in court and have experienced lawyers ready to represent them.
Use the tips listed here to increase your chances of winning a case against your insurance company. They’ll help you to come out on top.
Read our blog for more advice on making the most of your health insurance policy.
The Editorial Team at Healthcare Business Today is made up of skilled healthcare writers and experts, led by our managing editor, Daniel Casciato, who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We offer readers access to fresh health, medicine, science, and technology developments and the latest in patient news, emphasizing how these developments affect our lives.