MedWorm: Life Insurance

Improved access to life insurance after genetic diagnosis of familial hypercholesterolaemia: cross-sectional postal questionnaire study

European Journal of Human Genetics — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Roeland Huijgen, Sietske JM Homsma, Barbara A Hutten, Iris Kindt, Maud N Vissers, John JP Kastelein & Jan LA van Rijckevorsel (Source: European Journal of Human Genetics)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Insurer Conducted Full and Fair Review, Judge Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:05:53 +0100

BROOKLYN, NY - A New York federal judge on Dec. 30 ruled that an ERISA-governed disability insurer that relied on record reviews and surveillance video in its decision to terminate benefits acted reasonably (Joseph E. Duncan v. Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York, No. 10-CV-1164, E.D. N.Y.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 150546). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

4th Circuit: Plan Administrator's Benefit Calculation Reasonable

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:05:53 +0100

RICHMOND, Va. - A plan administrator's interpretation of its policy language in calculating benefits was reasonable, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Jan. 11, upholding a grant of summary judgment to the insurer (Kenneth Fortier v. Principal Life Insurance Co., No. 10-1441, 4th Cir.; 2012 U.S. App. LEXIS 557). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Breach Of Agreement Claim Against Employer Barred, Judge Says

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:05:53 +0100

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - A California federal judge on Dec. 29 granted an employer summary judgment in a breach of agreement claim, finding that the claim was based on the company's group insurer's denial of long-term disability benefits and was therefore preempted by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (James Burchett v. Life Insurance Company of North America, Apple Computer Inc., No. 2:11-CV-0696-GEB-DAD, E.D. Calif.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 149452). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

11th Circuit's Structural Conflict Of Interest Ruling Will Not Be Reviewed

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:05:53 +0100

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Supreme Court on Dec. 12 declined to review an 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that a disability insurer possessed a reasonable basis for its decisions to terminate benefits and its structural conflict of interest did not render those decisions arbitrary and capricious under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (Frank Blankenship v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, No. 11-444, U.S. Sup.). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Federal Judge Remands Case To Administrator Where Time Limits Violated

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 00:05:53 +0100

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Remand to the disability plan administrator, not de novo review, is the appropriate remedy when the administrator failed to make a benefits determination within the deadlines prescribed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act's regulations because of a procedural error by the administrator's employee, a federal judge ruled Jan. 4 (James W. Hackney v. The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company, No. 3:11-CV-268, W.D. Ky.; 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 694). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Cigar smoking may affect rates for term life insurance

Modern Medicine — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Learn whether smoking occasionally affects term life insurance rates, and how to find out if you'll see a higher bill. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Judge: Policy's Definition Of Totally Disabled Is Ambiguous

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:37:53 +0100

DETROIT - An own-occupation policy's definition of totally disabled is ambiguous, a Michigan federal judge ruled Nov. 22, finding that the definition must be interpreted in favor of the insured (Raymond D. Oliver v. National Life Insurance Co., No. 09-11040, E.D. Mich.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 134). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Issues Of Fact Preclude Judgment, Florida Federal Judge Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:37:53 +0100

MIAMI - A Florida federal judge on Dec. 2 allowed a claimant to proceed with a bad faith action against her disability insurer, finding that issues of fact exist over how the insurer handled his claim (Gaby Kafie v. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., No. 11-21251, S.D. Fla.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 138956). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

More Discovery Needed To Determine Bias, California Federal Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:37:53 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge on Nov. 18 said claims over the proper calculation of benefits and whether a mental illness benefit limitation was properly relied on in a dispute over disability benefits can proceed. The judge denied summary judgment, finding that additional discovery is needed (Michele P. Sconiers v. First Unum Life Insurance Co., et al., No. C 11-01798, N.D. Calif.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 133509). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Census: Georgia social insurance trust revenue spiked in ‘10

bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:29:53 +0100

Georgia’s revenue climbed 33.5 percent in 2010, as the total revenue of all 50 states jumped 79 percent, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau. The Peach State had about $44.9 billion inn total revenue in 2010, compared with $33.6 billion in 2009. The difference came mostly from a 1,206 percent spike to $8.4 billion in social insurance trust revenue. The Census Bureau said two major sources make up the trust systems: employee retirement systems and federal and state social insurance trust systems, which include the unemployment compensation system, state government worker’s compensation programs, Social Security, Medicare, veteran’s life insurance and railroad retirement... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Hospitals headlines)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Optimal Hedging and Pricing of Equity-Linked Life Insurance Contracts in a Discrete-Time Incomplete Market

Infectious Diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:10:27 +0100

We present a method of optimal hedging and pricing of equity-linked life insurance products in an incomplete discrete-time financial market. A pure endowment life insurance contract with guarantee is used as an example. The financial market incompleteness is caused by the assumption that the underlying risky asset price ratios are distributed in a compact interval, generalizing the assumptions of multinomial incomplete market models. For a range of initial hedging capitals for the embedded financial option, we numerically solve an optimal hedging problem and determine a risk-return profile of each optimal non-self-financing hedging strategy. The fair price of the insurance contract is determined according to the insurer's risk-return preferences. Illustrative numerical results of testing o...

Servicemembers' group life insurance traumatic injury protection program--genitourinary losses. Interim final rule.

Fed Regist — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 05:00:00 +0100

Authors: Abstract The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is issuing this interim final rule that amends the regulations governing the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Traumatic Injury Protection (TSGLI) program by adding certain genitourinary (GU) system losses to the TSGLI Schedule of Losses and defining terms relevant to these new losses. This amendment is necessary to make qualifying GU losses a basis for paying GU-injured Servicemembers TSGLI benefits. The intended effect is to expand the list of losses for which TSGLI payments can be made. PMID: 22145191 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Fed Regist)

Clarion Partners secures $95M loan for McPherson Building

bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:12:26 +0100

A life insurance company has provided a $95 million refinance loan for Clarion Partners LLC's McPherson Building, located at 901 15th St. NW, GlobeSt.com reports. The non-recourse loan was secured by Cassidy Turley senior managing directors John Campanella and David Webb. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)

Magistrate Judge: Claimant Who Is Still Able To Practice Dentistry Is Not Disabled

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:29:36 +0100

MIAMI - A Florida federal magistrate judge on Nov. 2 ruled that a disability insurer did not abuse it discretion in denying benefits to a claimant who worked as a dentist before and after an accident she claimed left her disabled from performing the principal duties of her occupation (Susan F. Socas v. The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., No. 07-20336, S.D. Fla.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 126789). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge: Breach Of Fiduciary Duty Claim Can Proceed

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:29:36 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal judge on Nov. 1 refused to dismiss a breach of fiduciary duty claim against an ERISA-governed disability insurer, finding that the claim was sufficiently pleaded to survive a motion to dismiss (Michele P. Sconiers v. First Unum Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 11-cv-01798, N.D. Calif.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 126209). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

New York Federal Judge Allows Discovery Into Conflict Of Interest

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:29:36 +0100

NEW YORK - A New York federal judge on Nov. 3 allowed a disability claimant to pursue discovery into a potential conflict of interest as to how her claim was handled (Gail McDonnell v. First Unum Life Insurance Co., No. 10-CV-08140, S.D. N.Y.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 127290). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

9th Circuit Orders Action Remanded For Benefit Calculation

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:29:36 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on Oct. 28 in an unpublished opinion reversed a lower court's judgment dismissing a claimant's action over the proper calculation of her long-term disability benefits, including whether a benefit offset should be applied (Susan Rene Jones v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 10-16713, 9th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 21996). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Challenge To Unum's Denial Of Disability Benefits Is Untimely, 5th Circuit Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 03:29:36 +0100

NEW ORLEANS - A disability benefit plan participant claim challenging Unum Life Insurance Company of America's denial of benefits was time-barred because the claim reassessment process agreed to by Unum and the U.S. Department of Labor did not revive the statute of limitations with respect to the underlying claim denial, the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Oct. 31 in an unpublished opinion (El-Ray King v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 11-10397, 5th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 22145). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Discretionary Clauses in Disability Insurance Policies Banned in California

Disabled World — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 23:03:01 +0100

A new law in California bans "discretionary clauses" in disability and life insurance policies. The clauses allow insurers to decide on their own if an insured is disabled, despite doctors' opinions. (Source: Disabled World)

7 More Insurers End Fight on New York State Rate Filings

NYT — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:40:21 +0100

After UnitedHealth/Oxford dropped its opposition recently, additional health insurance carriers have dropped their objections to the public disclosure of their filings with New York State. (Source: NYT)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Why life insurance is a vital consideration for new parents

HSJ — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 01:00:00 +0100

New parents celebrating a new arrival can often neglect to plan for the future, especially if the worst happens and a parent dies. Sainsbury’s Finance can provide cover to secure a family’s future. (Source: HSJ)

Administrator Properly Relied On IMEs In Benefit Denial, Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:41:58 +0100

TULSA, Okla. - An Oklahoma federal judge on Sept. 30 ruled that an ERISA-governed disability insurer that terminated benefits to a claimant with cervical neuropathy acted reasonably, finding that the insurer properly relied on two independent medical exams where the reviewers rejected the restrictions imposed by the treating physician (Gregg D. Whitfield v. Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 10-CV-096, N.D. Okla.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 112447). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Evidence Supports Denial Of Extended Benefits, Judge Says

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:41:58 +0100

DETROIT - A Michigan federal judge on Sept. 27 ruled that a disability plan administrator that denied a claimant with hepatitis C and depression benefits beyond the own-occupation coverage period acted reasonably. The judge found that the benefit denial was supported by the record (Cheryl Patten v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, No. 10-10822, E.D. Mich.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109702). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge: Issues Of Fact Exist As To Whether Claimant Is Disabled

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:41:58 +0100

BOSTON - Issues of fact exist as to whether a computer network analyst with narcolepsy is partially disabled under his disability policy, a Massachusetts federal judge ruled Sept. 27 (Daniel R. Hunt v. The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., No. 09-11737, D. Mass.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 109781). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Evidence Does Not Support Disability Finding, Texas Federal Judge Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:41:58 +0100

HOUSTON - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant with anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder acted reasonably, a Texas federal judge ruled Oct. 4. The judge found that the claimant failed to produce objective medical evidence to support her disability (Veronica Brown v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 11-840, S.D. Texas; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 114197). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

7th Circuit: Insurer's Application Of Self-Reporting Clause Wasn't Reasonable

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:41:58 +0100

CHICAGO - Upon panel rehearing, the Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Sept. 20 ruled that an insurer's termination of benefits based on the disability plan's self-reporting symptoms limitation clause was arbitrary and capricious because the claimant's diagnosis of disabling fibromyalgia was based on medical evidence and not the claimant's self-reported symptoms (Susie Weitzenkamp v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, Nos. 10-3898 and 11-1006, 7th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 19283). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge: Insurer's Interpretation Of Any-Occupation Definition Flawed

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:41:58 +0100

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - A group disability insurer misinterpreted the terms "main duties" in the plan's any-occupation coverage definition, a Virginia federal judge ruled Sept. 30. The judge found that a claimant under the plan was entitled to continued benefits (Nashwa Ulsaker v. Lincoln National Life Insurance Co., No. 1:10-cv-1416, E.D. Va.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 111991). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

9th Circuit: Insurer Must Adjust Disability Benefits

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 11:41:58 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - A federal district court properly ruled that an insurer that functioned as a plan administrator must retroactively adjust a participant's disability benefits pursuant to the terms of the plan to reflect a retroactive adjustment of the participant's salary, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Aug. 26 in an unpublished opinion (Laura A. Cyr v. Reliance Standard life Insurance Co., Nos. 07-56869, 08-55234, 9th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 18010). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Can a blood test really tell you when you'll die?

Guardian Unlimited Science — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:00:00 +0100

A small Spanish biological research company was deluged with queries after reports that its blood test could predict the age you would die. Well, can it?As a taxi takes me across Madrid to the laboratories of Spain's National Cancer Research Centre, I am fretting about the future. I am one of the first people in the world to provide a blood sample for a new test, which has been variously described as a predictor of how long I will live, a waste of time or a handy indicator of how well (or badly) my body is ageing. Today I get the results.Some newspapers, to the dismay of the scientists involved, have gleefully announced that the test – which measures the telomeres (the protective caps on the ends of my chromosomes) – can predict when I will die. Am I about to find out that, at least st...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Melanoma survivors: health behaviors, surveillance, psychosocial factors, and family concerns

Psycho-Oncology — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 04:00:00 +0100

ConclusionsWe identified areas of high priority to melanoma survivors: skin self‐examination, anxiety associated with sun exposure, familial risk communication, and maintaining health insurance benefits. The implications for cancer survivors are that these behavioral data will help to design health promotion and prevention programs that are tailored to melanoma survivors' risk status. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. (Source: Psycho-Oncology)

Life Insurance Helps Provide Critical Retirement Safety Net

Disabled World — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 22:41:50 +0100

As many Americans scramble to deal with uncertain economic times, they can make some mistakes in their attempts to economize. (Source: Disabled World)

iPad App for Life Insurance - AXA Equitable

Disabled World — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 22:30:48 +0100

AXA Equitable Launches Apple iPad App for Life Insurance - Through Stories, Quizzes and Calculators App Encourages Understanding of Protection Needs. (Source: Disabled World)

Kenya: Life Insurance Has Plenty of Benefits the Living Can Enjoy

AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:42:46 +0100

Last week, I had an opportunity to listen to an insurance sales agent make a presentation on a whole life insurance cover product to members of an investment club gathered for an annual meeting. (Source: AllAfrica News: Health and Medicine)

9th Circuit Finds Benefit Denial Was Reasonable

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 04:08:47 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals in a Sept. 1 unpublished opinion found that a disability plan administrator's benefit denial was reasonably supported by the evidence (David L. Welsh v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 10-36150, 9th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 18343). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

The relation of life insurance to public hygiene.

American Journal of Public Health — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 09:12:12 +0100

Authors: PMID: 21917618 [PubMed - in process] (Source: American Journal of Public Health)

Lifeline Direct Insurance Services Now Offering Life Insurance for...

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Sat, 03 Sep 2011 19:53:50 +0100

Getting a life insurance plan is considered to be one of the most important investments, especially for people whose line of work involves a certain amount of danger. By having adequate life...(PRWeb August 31, 2011)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/8/prweb8721999.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

Hawaii-Western Management Group offering stop-loss insurance

bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practices headlines — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 21:41:10 +0100

Hawaii-Western Management Group has partnered with HCC Life Insurance Co. to give HWMG’s self-insured clients access to medical stop-loss insurance. The partnership will ensure that self-funded clients will not be drastically affected by unexpected claims, said Judy Boyle Chun, CEO of HWMG, one of Hawaii’s largest insurance management services companies and administrator for the Hawaii Medical Assurance Association. “With the effects of federal health care reform looming over businesses, more employers than ever before are choosing to self-fund their health benefit plans, empowering them to considerably reduce costs, maintain control over reserves and avoid many expensive health reform mandates,” she said in a news release... (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Physician Practic...

Life Insurance Awareness Month Tips

Disabled World — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 17:22:32 +0100

LDS Wealth Advisors, an independent financial services firm based in Illinois, participates in September's Life Insurance Awareness Month by providing useful life insurance tips. (Source: Disabled World)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

A Cause With Solutions: An American Hemodialysis Story

American Journal of Kidney Diseases — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 23:56:44 +0100

Life was good. I had completed years of arduous training in internal medicine and I had finally achieved a varied practice, balancing time in the hospital against my clinic and urgent care duties. I had a young and growing family living in a vibrant community that both my wife and I enjoyed. Then the postman delivered a letter of rejection from a life insurance application simply stating that I had failed my physical exam. This came as quite a shock to me since I had always passed my physicals in the military without any adverse reports. Yet, in 1998, at the age of 40, I first learned of an abnormal urinalysis with elevated levels of protein. (Source: American Journal of Kidney Diseases)

Longevity Insurance - Income Supplement for Old Age

Disabled World — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 17:08:47 +0100

What is Longevity Insurance? Longevity insurance policies are deferred income annuities that issue payments only when, and if, you hit an advanced age. (Source: Disabled World)

New Nutritional Guidelines in Schools Offer Hope in Fight Against Obesity [Op-Ed]

RWJF News Digest - Childhood Obesity — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Obesity already costs U.S. businesses $13 billion annually in health insurance claims, paid sick leave and disability and life insurance. And with roughly 80 percent of overweight children expected to become obese, we should not expect to see the health care costs of obesity abating anytime soon. Clearly, we need to make dramatic changes, and we need to begin by improving how our children eat and exercise. School is an excellent place to start, since many children receive as much as half of their daily calorie intake during school hours. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Childhood Obesity)

401-Kaye Insurance Plan - Path to Financial Security

Disabled World — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 23:27:38 +0100

Insurance Plan Provides Path To Financial Security Howard Kaye Insurance Agency Inc. offers the 401-Kaye Plan Which Allows Clients To Create Their Own Inheritance. (Source: Disabled World)

Top 5 Dayton-area Health and life insurance agencies

bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:17:32 +0100

The Dayton Business Journal is providing a peek at the list in this Friday’s print edition as we reveal the top 5 Dayton-area health and life insurance agencies. The list ranks the recipients by health and life premiums. The full list of all top 12 health and life insurance agencies in the Dayton region is available only in print in the August 19 edition of the DBJ. Click the slideshow to view the top 5 Dayton-area health and life insurance agencies. (Source: bizjournals.com Health Care:Pharmaceuticals headlines)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

No Medical Exam Life Insurance Coverage Information

Disabled World — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 23:25:56 +0100

Term Insurance Quotes Promotes No-Medical Exam Life Insurance Coverage. (Source: Disabled World)

Insurer Barred From Relying On Self-Reported Symptoms Limitation

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:53:57 +0100

CHICAGO - The Seventh Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on July 11 ruled that an ERISA-governed insurer is barred from relying on its policy's self-reported symptoms limitation provision because it failed to mention the provision in its summary plan description (SPD) that was given to employees (Susie Weitzenkamp v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 10-3898 & 11-1006, 7th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 14180). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

CTS Was Not 'Injury' Under Policy, 9th Circuit Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:53:57 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on July 14 in an unpublished decision upheld a grant of summary judgment to a disability insurer that found that an insured's carpal tunnel syndrome did not fall under the policy's "injury" provision. Classification of the disability as an "injury" would entitle the insured to lifetime disability benefits under the policy, the appeals court said (Zaven Bilezikjian v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, et al., No. 10-55249, 9th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 14664). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Benefit Denial Was Supported By The Record, 3rd Circuit Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:53:57 +0100

PHILADELPHIA - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant with chronic back pain acted reasonably, a Third Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals panel ruled July 27. The panel held that the claimant never attempted to return to work with modifications of her work station and failed to show that she could no longer perform the duties of her occupation (Luciana Baker v. The Hartford Life Insurance co., et al., No. 10-2899, 3rd Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 15567). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Maryland Federal Judge Rules Glenn Allows Additional Discovery

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:53:57 +0100

BALTIMORE - Post-Glenn, a Maryland federal judge on July 27 ruled that an Employee Retirement Income Security Act claimant may pursue additional extra-record discovery in certain instances (Helene Clark v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, et al., No. 10-3107, D. Md.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 82249). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

11th Circuit: Structural Conflict Of Interest Didn't Make Benefit Denial Arbitrary

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 21:53:57 +0100

ATLANTA - A disability insurer possessed a reasonable basis for its decisions to terminate benefits and its structural conflict of interest did not render those decisions arbitrary and capricious under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the 11th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled June 30 (Frank Blankenship v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, No. 10-10717, 11th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 13358). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Late effects among pediatric patients followed for nearly 4 decades after transplantation for severe aplastic anemia

Blood — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 23:00:00 +0100

This study evaluates late effects among 152 patients followed 1-38 years (median, 21.8 years). Transplantation-preparative regimes were mostly cyclophosphamide with or without antithymocyte globulin. Survival at 30 years for the acquired AA patients is 82%, and for the Fanconi anemia patients it is 58% (P = .01). Multivariate analysis demonstrated that chronic GVHD (P = .02) and Fanconi anemia (P = .03) negatively impacted survival. Two Fanconi patients and 18 acquired AA patients developed a malignancy that was fatal for 4. There was an increased incidence of thyroid function test abnormalities among those who received total body irradiation. Cyclophosphamide recipients demonstrated normal growth, basically normal development, and pregnancies with mostly normal offspring. Quality-of-life ...

How Physicians Can Stop Hating Life Insurance (Part 2)

Physicians Practice — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:00:00 +0100

In this blog, we continue to examine the tactical application of insurance and how physicians should think about it as part of their investment and estate-planning portfolio. (Source: Physicians Practice)

How Physicians Can Stop Hating Life Insurance (Part I)

Physicians Practice — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:00:00 +0100

Doctors typically recoil from any discussion of life insurance. As a medical professional you are oversold, underserved, and likely inundated with calls and marketing materials from financial advisory and insurance groups inviting you to dinners at steak houses several times a week. (Source: Physicians Practice)

Lifeline Direct Insurance Revolutionizes Online Quoting Through...

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 17:51:20 +0100

It can be tiresome searching and searching for the right insurance company. Consumers want the ability to search for term life insurance quotes that fit their budgets and needs. Lifeline Direct...(PRWeb July 20, 2011)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/7/prweb8648793.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Piramal Healthcare in talks to buy out Enam Financial from ING Life Insurance

The Economic Times Healthcare and Biotech News — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 01:30:00 +0100

Piramal Healthcare is taking its second step to transform into a financial services conglomerate as it negotiates to buy Enam's stake in ING Life Insurance (Source: The Economic Times Healthcare and Biotech News)

Insurer Can Be Liable Under ERISA, 9th Circuit Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:57:23 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - The Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on June 22 in an en banc ruling held potential liability under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) is not limited to a benefits plan or plan administrator. The appeals court said an insurer that acted as an administrator can be a named defendant in an action under ERISA to recover benefits (Laura A. Cyr v. Reliance Standard life Insurance Co., et al., No. 07-56869, 9th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 12601). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Failure To Apply Own Occupation Standard Was Arbitrary, Judge Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:57:23 +0100

PHILADELPHIA - An ERISA-governed insurer's failure to apply the own occupation disability definition in its benefits determination was arbitrary and capricious, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled June 21 (Cheryl A. Loomis v. Life Insurance Company of North America, et al., No. 09-3616, E.D. Pa.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 66636). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Court: Failure To Use Vocational Expert Was Not An Abuse of Discretion

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:57:23 +0100

NEW ORLEANS - A disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant with shoulder pain did not abuse its discretion, the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled June 7, finding that the insurer was not required to use a vocational expert to evaluate the claimant's ability to work (Habiba Ewing v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., No. 10-20668, 5th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 11661). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Court: Failure To Explain Reasons For Rejecting SSA Finding Is Abuse Of Discretion

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 19:57:23 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - An ERISA-governed disability insurer abused its discretion in failing to explain in a "meaningful way" its reasons for rejecting the Social Security Administration's finding of disability and in failing to provide the claimant with information she needed to perfect her claim, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled June 22 in an unpublished opinion (Debra Letvinuck v. Aetna Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 2:06-cv-02831, 9th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 12744). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

New York Life Launches Guaranteed Future Income Annuity

Disabled World — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 19:06:54 +0100

New Flexible Deferred Income Annuity Allows Consumers To Build Their Future Retirement Income Stream at Their Own Pace. (Source: Disabled World)

Life Insurance Payment Practices to be Reviewed

Disabled World — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 20:42:23 +0100

Reviewing the full extent of the practices concerning life insurance and annuity industry. (Source: Disabled World)

Term Life Insurance Quotes

Disabled World — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 18:59:15 +0100

was created with the shopper in mind. It provides side by side comparisons from different life insurance companies and it narrows down the optimal packages for a user’s specific needs. (Source: Disabled World)

Life, Disability and Critical Illness Insurance All in One Policy

Disabled World — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 20:30:55 +0100

Synergy features three policies in one - life, disability and critical illness insurance - in one convenient and affordable solution. (Source: Disabled World)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Life insurance tax depends on who is beneficiary

Modern Medicine — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 15:52:11 +0100

Learn whether life insurance is subject to estate tax. (Source: Modern Medicine)

Clinical review: Hepatitis C infection

NeLM - News — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions and recommendations for the management of the case presented (Source: NeLM - News)

Combination Life Insurance Up 62%

Disabled World — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:33:26 +0100

Following strong double-digit growth in 2009, new premium sales of individual life combination products jumped 62 percent in 2010, reaching $1.2 billion, according to LIMRA’s research. (Source: Disabled World)

Life Insurance CFOs Concerned About New US Regulations

Disabled World — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 18:26:23 +0100

Life Insurance CFOs Concerned About New U.S. Statutory Regulations, According to Towers Watson Survey - Executives guarded, but hopeful, about first quarter growth in GAAP net revenue and GAAP net income. (Source: Disabled World)

Group Life Insurance - Term Insurance Quotes

Disabled World — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 22:21:11 +0100

Popular term life insurance website TermInsuranceQuotes.com has introduced a comprehensive guide that focuses on all aspects of group life insurance. Consumers can compare different group life insurance plans and choose the best one accordingly. (Source: Disabled World)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

4th Circuit: Termination Of Long-Term Disability Benefits Was Reasonable

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:31:15 +0100

RICHMOND, Va. - The administrator of a long-term disability plan acted reasonably in terminating benefits because the decision was supported by substantial evidence, including the reports of an independent medical examiner and an independent physician consultant, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed May 23 in an unpublished per curiam opinion (Georgia Frankton v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, No. 09-2184, 4th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 10542). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Bars Coverage, Arkansas Federal Judge Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:31:15 +0100

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - An Arkansas federal judge on May 31 ruled that an ERISA-governed disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant with multiple sclerosis (MS) based on a pre-existing condition exclusion acted reasonably (Cynthia Lemley v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 4:10cv01153, E.D. Ark.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 58526). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Claimant Can Depose Reviewers, IME Doctor, Magistrate Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:31:15 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - A California federal magistrate judge on May 23 ruled that a disability claimant can depose an insurer's employees who were responsible for the initial and appeal claim decisions on her disability claim, as well as a nurse rehabilitation specialist and a doctor who completed an independent medical exam (IME) (Rose Miranda v. First Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 09-4452, N.D. Calif.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54866). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Plan Is Governed By ERISA, Kentucky Federal Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 19:31:15 +0100

LEXINGTON, Ky. - A Kentucky federal judge on May 18 ruled that an employer-sponsored group disability plan is governed by ERISA and that an action to recover benefits under the plan is subject to federal jurisdiction (Christopher Carter v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, No. 11-3, E.D. Ky.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 53428). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Life Insurance Safety Net in Hard Times

Disabled World — Fri, 17 Jun 2011 02:54:01 +0100

Troubled Economic Times Call for Life Insurance Safety Net. (Source: Disabled World)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Colorectal neoplasms in relation to non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease in Korean women: a retrospective cohort study

Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Our findings demonstrate a significant relationship between NAFLD and colorectal neoplasms. Among the various manifestations of metabolic syndrome, NAFLD may predict the development of colorectal neoplasms in Korean women. (Source: Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology)

New Survivorship Universal Life Insurance Product

Disabled World — Thu, 09 Jun 2011 22:03:39 +0100

John Hancock Life Insurance Launches New Survivorship Universal Life Product. (Source: Disabled World)

Women Buying Majority of Life Plus Long-Term Care Insurance Policies

Disabled World — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 03:39:25 +0100

Long-term care insurance protection can be purchased within a life insurance policy and sales surged in 2010 according to a new study released by the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance. (Source: Disabled World)

Using Life Insurance to Finance Dreams and Take Care of Loved Ones

Disabled World — Wed, 25 May 2011 02:24:07 +0100

Personal Stories Show Iowans the Flexibility of Life Insurance to Finance Dreams and Take Care of Loved Ones. (Source: Disabled World)

Lifeline Direct Insurance Simplifies Life Insurance for Diabetics

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Thu, 19 May 2011 15:05:17 +0100

Lifeline Direct Insurance have shown themselves to be consistent innovators in the insurance industry. Finding life insurance for diabetics has been difficult for even best case scenario patients and...(PRWeb May 17, 2011)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/5/prweb8438646.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Popular Retirement Top-Up Plans - Standard Life

Disabled World — Wed, 18 May 2011 21:53:20 +0100

Standard Life research has revealed the most popular retirement top-up plans for people who have saved into a pension. (Source: Disabled World)

Judge: Reliance On Paper Review, Surveillance Video Unreasonable

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:01:22 +0100

LOS ANGELES - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that terminated benefits to a claimant with fibromyalgia and other ailments abused its discretion, a California federal judge ruled April 26, finding that the evidence supported a finding of disability (Sheila Watts v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 09-829, S.D. Calif.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 44805). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Evidence Supports Termination Of Benefits Decision, 5th Circuit Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:01:22 +0100

NEW ORLEANS - An insurer's decision to terminate benefits to a claimant with carpal tunnel syndrome and lumbar and cervical radiculopathy was supported by substantial evidence in the record, the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled April 7 (Gwendolyn Byrd v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 10-20584, 5th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 7230). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

8th Circuit Upholds Residual Benefits Award, Reverses Prejudgment Interest

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:01:22 +0100

ST. LOUIS - The Eighth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on April 25 upheld a finding of residual disability to a claimant suffering from ankle bone loss. The appeals court upheld a retroactive award of benefits but reversed a lower court's award of prejudgment interest (Albert David Matthew, M.D. v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 10-2514, 8th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 8449). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Court: Inclusion Of Business Profits As Income Was Abuse Of Discretion

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 11 May 2011 19:01:22 +0100

BOSTON - An insurer's interpretation of the term "earnings" in its policy to include not only employment income but also income derived from business profits was an abuse of discretion, the First Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled April 20 (D&H Therapy Associates, et al. v. Boston Mutual Life Insurance Co., No. 10-1423, 1st Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 8138). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Life Insurance a Vital Security Blanket for Mothers

Disabled World — Sat, 07 May 2011 00:54:10 +0100

With the numerous roles you play as a mom, make certain you protect your family's future with life insurance. (Source: Disabled World)

Frank Stewart’s Bridge: Buying insurance

Wash Post Health — Sun, 01 May 2011 04:01:00 +0100

A friend of mine was in the process of buying a life insurance policy when his marriage hit a rocky patch. His application for the insurance read thus: (Source: Wash Post Health)

Lifeline Direct Insurance Assists Clients with Pre Existing Conditions

PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 01:50:35 +0100

Lifeline Direct Insurance Services, Inc. sets out to change the life insurance game with their “high risk quoting system.”(PRWeb April 24, 2011)Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/4/prweb8337926.htm (Source: PRWeb: Medical Pharmaceuticals)

Life Insurance Calculator - Calculate Amount You Should be Insured For

Disabled World — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 21:16:36 +0100

Free online life insurance calculator provides the amount you should be insured for in event of your death, accident or disability. (Source: Disabled World)

Knights of Columbus - $8B of Life Insurance

Disabled World — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:11:01 +0100

The Knights of Columbus insurance program passed a major milestone today when total insurance in force exceeded $80 billion. (Source: Disabled World)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Life Insurance for Empty Nesters

Disabled World — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 01:01:32 +0100

When the last child has moved out of the house, many "empty nesters" question if maintaining a life insurance policy is necessary. Before cancelling or reducing your insurance coverage, take some time to re-evaluate how your circumstances have changed, and consider what your future needs may be. (Source: Disabled World)

HUMAN+ explores the technologically enhanced future of our species

Guardian Unlimited Science — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 08:48:00 +0100

Michael John Gorman, director of the Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin, introduces the HUMAN+ exhibition – 'a combination of a sweet shop and a pharmacy, an Alice-in-Wonderland world of pills, promises and prosthetics'What do we mean when we speak about human enhancement? New York University professor Wafaa Bilal recently had a video camera implanted on a titanium base in the back of his skull. Leaving wires dangling awkwardly along his neck, the camera sent images to a remote server every 60 seconds. Students' concerns over their privacy, faced with a teacher who for once really did have eyes in the back of his head, forced Bilal to wear a lens cap while teaching, somewhat defeating the point.A few months later an infection forced Bilal to remove the camera, and simply wear it aro...

Mums Prefer Changing Nappies Than Arranging Life Insurance

Disabled World — Sun, 17 Apr 2011 21:27:31 +0100

Confused.com has revealed new research that shows almost half of British mums don't have any life insurance. (Source: Disabled World)

Abuse Of Discretion Proper Standard Of Review, 10th Circuit Says

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:25:42 +0100

DENVER - The 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on March 21 found that a District Court properly applied the abuse of discretion standard of review to an insurer's decision to deny benefits to a claimant with radiculopathy, finding that Colorado's statute requiring a de novo review cannot be applied retroactively (Mary McClenahan v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 10-1101, 10th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 5826). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

10th Circuit: Plan's Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion Bars Coverage

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:25:42 +0100

DENVER - An ERISA-governed disability insurer's finding that its plan's pre-existing condition exclusion bars further benefits for a claimant with back pain that was treated for such symptoms during the relevant time period was reasonable, the 10th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled March 16 (Michael Palmer v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., No. 10-3171, 10th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 5280). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Reliance On Record Reviews Was Reasonable, New York Federal Judge Says

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:25:42 +0100

BROOKLYN, NY - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant with chronic back pain acted reasonably, a New York federal judge ruled March 30. The insurer properly relied on record reviews that found the claimant capable of work with restrictions (Barbara Lopes v. First Unum Life Insurance Co., No. 09-CV-2642, E.D. N.Y.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 34205). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge: Reliance On Record Reviews Was Arbitrary

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:25:42 +0100

PHILADELPHIA - An ERISA-governed plan administrator's reliance on record reviews over that of the opinion of a treating physician and a record replete with treatment notes and diagnosis was arbitrary, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled March 31 (Carol Harper v. Aetna Life Insurance Co., No. 10-1459, E.D. Pa.; U.S. Dist. LEXIS 34848). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Insurer Failed To Properly Consider SSA Award, Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 18:25:42 +0100

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A West Virginia federal judge on March 28 reversed a grant of summary judgment to a disability insurer, finding that the insurer acted arbitrarily in failing to consider the continued Social Security benefits prior to its decision terminate benefits (Ricky A. Dickens v. Aetna Life Insurance Co., No. 2:10-cv-00088, S.D. W.Va.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 32595). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Life Insurance Rates Comparison - Compare Quotes

Disabled World — Fri, 01 Apr 2011 02:05:01 +0100

InsuranceAgents.com Launches New Life Insurance Rates Comparison Marketplace to Compare Quotes. (Source: Disabled World)

Guidelines for Assessment of Cardiovascular Disease in Life Insurance

Journal of the American College of Cardiology — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:00:12 +0100

The Task Force that prepared the 2010 American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Guidelines for Assessment of Cardiovascular Risk in Asymptomatic Adults () included representatives of societies of echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, imaging, angiography, computed tomography, and cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging. It is surprising that there were no representatives of the group with the greatest experience and professional interest in the subject—physicians and cardiologists in the life insurance industry. This industry was the first to accept the importance of brachial cuff blood pressure as a measure of risk in 1917 and the first to use radial artery tonometry and pulse waveform analysis to reject applicants for life insurance even earlier (). (Source...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Single parents lack life insurance

Health News - UPI.com — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 00:10:27 +0100

RICHMOND, Va., March 27 (UPI) -- Most U.S. single parents -- no matter what their income -- with children living at home have no life insurance, a survey says. (Source: Health News - UPI.com)

Reliance On Paper Reviews Was Abuse Of Discretion, Judge Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:36:22 +0100

LOS ANGELES - A California federal judge on Feb. 28 ruled that an ERISA-governed disability insurer that relied on three paper medical record reviews that were at best "superficial" in its decision to terminate benefits to a claimant with multiple sclerosis abused its discretion (Margaret Kreeger v. Life Insurance Company of North America, et al., No. 09-08262, C.D. Calif.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 19425). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge: Reliance On Consultant Record Reviews Was Reasonable

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:36:22 +0100

BROOKLYN, NY - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that terminated benefits to a claimant suffering from depression and migraine headaches did not abuse its discretion, a New York federal judge ruled March 1. The insurer's reliance on four medical consultant record reviews was reasonable, the judge held (Josephine Testa v Hartford Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 08-CV-816, E.D. N.Y.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 20741). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Contractual Limitations Period Bars Action, 5th Circuit Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:36:22 +0100

NEW ORLEANS - A plan's three-year contractual limitations period bars an action for wrongful denial of disability benefits, the Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Feb. 25, finding that the action was filed more than three years after proof of disability was filed (Connie D. White v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., No. 10-30707, 5th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 3682). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Lack Of Deadline Notice Violated ERISA, Judge Rules, Finding Possible Bad Faith

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:36:22 +0100

NEW YORK - An insurer's failure to properly notify a beneficiary of her deadline to appeal a denial of disability claims violated the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), a New York federal judge ruled Feb. 14, denying the insurer's motion to dismiss (Karen Novick v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 09-06865, S.D. N.Y.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 14505). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

2nd Circuit: Insurer Entitled To Rescind Policy Because Of Misrepresentations

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 15:36:22 +0100

NEW YORK - A disability insurer is entitled to rescind a policy that was issued based on an applicant's material misrepresentations about her medical health history, the Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Feb. 2 (Anita L. Dormer, M.D. v. Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co., No. 10-0227, 2nd Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 2154). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Ameritas Group Helps Fund Dental College Oral Cancer Research

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 09:00:00 +0100

Ameritas Group, a division of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., has made a $250,000 gift commitment to the University of Nebraska Foundation to establish a permanent endowment in support of the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Dentistry. The fund will provide annual support for research focused on preventing, detecting and treating oral cancer. In December 2010, Ken VanCleave, president of Ameritas Group, presented the first installment of the endowment... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Vidocq Society – the murder club

Guardian Unlimited Science — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 20:31:01 +0100

Homicide is always on the menu at this exclusive dining society where some of the world's greatest crime specialists gather each month to solve grisly, cold case killings. Ed Pilkington joins themIn a banqueting hall lined with mahogany panels and lit with chandeliers, in the august surroundings of the Union League, an imposing civil war-era building that occupies an entire block of Philadelphia, about 100 men and women are sitting down to a very good lunch. The starter of squash soup is followed by chicken breast smothered in parsley sauce with creamed potatoes, and a rich cheesecake. But as I'm tucking into the dessert, a woman at my table leans over to me and says: "I'd go easy on that, if I were you. It may not agree with the presentation."The comment is puzzling. But when the plates a...

Living with life insurance: a qualitative analysis of the experience of male implantable defibrillator recipients in Spain

Journal of Clinical Nursing — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions. An understanding of the significance attached by recipients to their disease, diagnosis and treatment allows their behaviour and expectations to be understood.Relevance to clinical practice. Provide the basis for nursing assessment after discharge, understand the effects of the device in the recipient and track the process of adapting the recipient to daily life. (Source: Journal of Clinical Nursing)

A Case of Suicidal Suffocation Simulating Homicide.

Journal of Forensic Sciences — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: d'Aloja E, De Giorgio F, Ausania F, Cascini F This case concerns an unusual suicidal plastic bag suffocation. An elderly white man was found dead and partially disrobed in his apartment lying supine on a sofa with a plastic bag closed by a rope over the head and the upper and lower extremities tightly tied with two other ropes, the end of both arranged into slipknots (self-rescue mechanism). Police investigations found no pornography in the apartment, and circumstantial data alleged no psychiatric disorders or suicidal intentions. The autopsy excluded signs of struggle and sexual intercourse as well as any type of injury or physical illness. Chemical analyses on the peripheral blood excluded acute drugs and/or alcohol intoxication. A differential diagnosis of the manner of...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Disability Insurance for Types of Employment

Disabled World — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:56:12 +0100

Whenever we think about insurance, we immediately start thinking about life insurance. There is no denying the importance of life insurance in securing the future of your family, but there some other risks that might affect their life dearly too. The biggest risk that you face as a working professional is a disability that leaves you unable to work. (Source: Disabled World)

Supreme Court and Pharmaceutical Terrorism

NaturalNews.com — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 07:00:00 +0100

The Supreme Court showed the world today that there is nothing supreme or noble about it and that it is as corrupt and cruel as most other governmental institutions. In a 6-3 vote, the high court ruled for Wyeth, saying they could not be sued for vaccine damages. Wyeth is now owned by Pfizer Inc. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal law shields vaccine makers from product-liability lawsuits in state courts seeking damages for a child's injuries or death from a vaccine's side effects.The trial case was a lawsuit by the parents of Hannah Bruesewitz, who suffered seizures as an infant after her third dose of a diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) vaccine in 1992. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Tuesday the 22nd of February 2011 sustaining the federal law that shielded vaccine manufacturers...

Benefit Denial Was Reasonably Supported By Record, Judge Finds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:33:16 +0100

CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A group disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant with chronic neck, back and leg pain acted reasonably, a North Carolina federal judge ruled Jan. 25 (Tina Worsley, executrix of the estate of Mark Worsley v. Aetna Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 3:07-cv-500-RJC-DCK, W.D. N.C.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 7170). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

4th Circuit: Administrator Improperly Denied Benefits For Fibromyalgia, Arthritis

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:33:16 +0100

RICHMOND, Va. - A plan administrator abused its discretion under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act by denying disability benefits to a claimant where objective evidence indicated that the claimant suffered from rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis and fibromyalgia and the claimant reported subjective complaints of pain, the Fourth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed Jan. 24 (Rebecca DuPerry v. Life Insurance Company of North America, No. 10-1089, 4th Cir.; 2011 U.S. App. LEXIS 1399). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Insurer Can Proceed With Counterclaim Seeking Restitution, Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:33:16 +0100

BOSTON - An ERISA-governed disability insurer can proceed with its counterclaim against its disability insured seeking reimbursement of benefit overpayments in light of a retroactive Social Security disability income award, a Massachusetts federal judge ruled Feb. 3 (Nancy Bigda Parent v. Principal Life Insurance Co., et al., No. 10-30055, D. Mass.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 10600). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Misrepresentations Over Drug Use Justified Policy Rescission, Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 21:33:16 +0100

PHILADELPHIA - A policyholder's failure to provide information about his prior drug treatment justified his insurer's rescission of his disability insurance, a Pennsylvania federal judge ruled Jan. 31 (Michael Sadel v. Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America, et al., No. 09-612, E.D. Pa.; 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 8993). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Vaccine-induced HIV seropositivity: A problem on the rise

Journal of Clinical Virology — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Conclusions: Interpretation of HIV test results is becoming increasingly complex with the growing number of volunteers participating in prophylactic HIV vaccine trials worldwide and the rising number of viral antigens included in these vaccine candidates. The results of this study in recipients of a highly immunogenic adjuvanted polyprotein HIV vaccine candidate devoid of envelope proteins, illustrate the increasing need for approaches that can discriminate HIV infection-induced antibodies from those elicited by a vaccine. (Source: Journal of Clinical Virology)

Over 50s Life Insurance Essential

Disabled World — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 01:39:06 +0100

Over 50s life insurance policies are becoming increasingly popular with those seeking a means of covering the costs and expenses that might be incurred when they die. (Source: Disabled World)

Ex-smokers failing to cash in for life

Scotsman.com News - Health — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 +0100

Thousands of non-smokers are paying over the odds for life insurance because they fail to inform their provider they have kicked the habit. life (Source: Scotsman.com News - Health)

Insurer's Interpretation Of Evidence Regarding Claim Was Reasonable, Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:39:38 +0100

BUFFALO, NY - A New York federal judge on Dec. 27 ruled that an ERISA-governed disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant based on a worker's compensation exclusion in the plan acted reasonably (Scott Trapp v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co., No. 07-CV-00835, W.D. N.Y.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136438). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Release Does Not Void Claim, California Federal Judge Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:39:38 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - A release of claims signed when a claimant took a severance package does not bar his claim for long-term disability benefits, a California federal judge ruled Dec. 23 (Edmundo M. Rombeiro v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, et al., No. 02-04018, N.D. Calif.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 136076). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge: Claimant Can Depose Insurer's Appeal Claim Manager

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:39:38 +0100

PHILADELPHIA - A Pennsylvania federal judge on Dec. 22 denied a disability insurer's motion for a protective order barring the deposition of its appeal claim manager. The judge held that a claimant can depose the manager to seek information as to a "conflict of interest" (Sheryl Heim v. Life Insurance Company of North America, No. 10-1567, E.D. Pa.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 135370). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge Dismisses Bad Faith, Benefits Recovery Claims As Untimely, Duplicative

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:39:38 +0100

SPOKANE, Wash. - The statute of limitations on a bad faith claim began to toll with the initial rejection of a disability benefits claim, not when the rejection was reaffirmed, a Washington federal judge ruled Dec. 13, dismissing the claim (Roger Lenk v. Life Insurance Company of North America, et al., No. 10-5018, E.D. Wash.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 131645). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

9th Circuit: 'Dismemberment' In ERISA Policy Requires Actual Separation Of Limb

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 17:39:38 +0100

SAN FRANCISCO - "Dismemberment by severance" in a plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act requires "physical removal of the limbs," not just functional loss of use of the limbs, the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Jan. 4 in a per curiam opinion affirming the denial of accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) benefits to a plan participant who was rendered permanently quadriplegic in an accident (Robert B. Fier v. Unum Life Insurance Co. of America, No. 09-17520; 9th Cir.; 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 26603). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Amendments to regulations regarding eligibility for a Medicare prescription drug subsidy. Interim final rule with request for comments.

Fed Regist — Wed, 29 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

Authors: We are revising our regulations to incorporate changes to the Medicare prescription drug coverage low-income subsidy (Extra Help) program made by the Affordable Care Act which was enacted on March 23, 2010. Under our interpretation of section 3304 of the Affordable Care Act and this interim final rule, if the death of a beneficiary's spouse would decrease or eliminate the subsidy provided by the Extra Help program, we will, based on a determination, or redetermination, extend the effective period of eligibility for the most recent determination or redetermination until 1 year after the month following the month we are notified of the death of the spouse. These regulatory changes will allow us to implement this provision of the Affordable Care Act when it goes into effect on ...

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Management of Hepatitis B

Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0100

A 48-year-old Chinese man is referred for management of his newly diagnosed hepatitis B. He was found to have hepatitis B as a result of applying for life insurance. Until then he was asymptomatic, knew of no health issues, and took no medications prescribed or over-the-counter. He neither consumes alcohol nor smokes. He is married with 2 children and works as a chef. Subsequent to his testing positive for hepatitis B, both his mother and older brother were also found to have hepatitis B. He gave no family history of hepatoma. His physical examination was unremarkable. The blood work showed the following: alanine aminotransferase (ALT), 20 U/L; hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), +; hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), −; anti-HBe, +; and hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA, 1.04 × 10E3 IU/mL. (Sour...

FCE, IME Support Decision To Deny Benefits, 6th Circuit Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Emerging Toxic Torts Legal News — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:26:59 +0100

CINCINNATI - An insurer's reliance on a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) and a report from an independent medical exam (IME) in its decision to terminate disability benefits to a claimant with chronic back pain was reasonable under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Nov. 17 (John Schwalm v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, No. 09-4275, 6th Cir.; 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 23621). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Emerging Toxic Torts Legal News)

9th Circuit: Ability To Work Full Time Is Relevant Issue

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Emerging Toxic Torts Legal News — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 18:26:59 +0100

NEW ORLEANS - The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Nov. 29 in an unpublished opinion ruled that a disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant who was capable of working full time, even though he did not have the opportunity to work full time, did not abuse its discretion under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (Bruce Leipzig, M.D. v. Principal Life Insurance Co., No. 10-10394, 5th Cir.; 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 24396). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Emerging Toxic Torts Legal News)

A 'Must Have' For Small Businesses

Forbes.com Healthcare News — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 21:19:18 +0100

MassMutual CEO, Roger Crandall, says many small business owners don't have life insurance. (Source: Forbes.com Healthcare News)

Tips For Buying Life Insurance If You Have A Serious Health Condition

Health News from Medical News Today — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:00:00 +0100

If you've ever been told that you can't buy life insurance due to a pre-existing medical condition or that your application was rated up due to one or more medical conditions, Life Quotes, Inc. offers these tips for securing a life insurance policy at a rate you can live with. Life insurance shoppers with heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other common ailments, take heart. There are strategies that you can employ to obtain life insurance coverage, often at a great price, but a good outcome requires that you properly shop the market or have a good agent do so for you... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Buying Life Insurance with Serious Health Condition

Disabled World — Mon, 13 Dec 2010 21:17:44 +0100

Tips for Buying Life Insurance if You Have a Serious Health Condition. (Source: Disabled World)

9th Circuit: Opportunity To Work Full Time Is Not Primary Issue

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:40:18 +0100

NEW ORLEANS - The Fifth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on Nov. 29 found that a disability insurer that denied benefits to a claimant who had the ability to work full time, just not the opportunity, did not abuse its discretion (Bruce Leipzig, M.D. v. Principal Life Insurance Co., No. 10-10394, 5th Cir.; 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 24396). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

FCE, IME Support Decision To Deny Benefits, 6th Circuit Rules

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:40:18 +0100

CINCINNATI - An insurer's reliance on a functional capacity evaluation (FCE) and a report from an independent medical exam (IME) in its decision to terminate benefits to a claimant with chronic back pain was reasonable, the Sixth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled Nov. 17 (John Schwalm v. Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, No. 09-4275, 6th Cir.; 2010 U.S. App. LEXIS 23621). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge Dismisses Bad Faith Counterclaim She Had Previously Preserved

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:40:18 +0100

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - A insurer sufficiently established a prima facie case that it did not act in bad faith by finding that a policyholder's failure to pursue surgical options for his disability made him ineligible to receive disability insurance benefits, a Connecticut federal judge ruled Nov. 19 (The Paul Revere Life Insurance Co. v. Michael C. DiBari, No. 3:08cv1795, D. Conn.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 122906). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge Dismisses Emotional Distress Claim, Not Bad Faith Claim In Disability Case

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 18:40:18 +0100

WASHINGTON, D.C. - An insured sufficiently alleged that her insurer "failed to act in good faith" based on its contractual obligations, a District of Columbia federal judge ruled Nov. 24, denying in part the insurer's motion to dismiss (Pamela Anne Nugent v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 10-266, D. D.C.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 124601). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

HCC Life and Mayo Clinic Sign Transplant Service Agreement

News from Mayo Clinic — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:49:05 +0100

HCC Life Insurance Company (HCC Life), a leading carrier of medical stop loss insurance, announced today that it has reached an agreement with Mayo Clinic to offer transplant services to its medical stop loss insurance policyholders. (Source: News from Mayo Clinic)

Coventry Applauds Victory For Life Insurance Consumers

Health News from Medical News Today — Sat, 20 Nov 2010 10:00:00 +0100

Coventry, the creator of the secondary market for life insurance in the U.S., applauds the New York Court of Appeals decision in Kramer v. Phoenix Life Insurance Company as a significant victory for life insurance consumers and the secondary market for life insurance. "There are two prongs to this decision, one of which will resonate broadly," said Alan Buerger, CEO of Coventry... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)

Guardian Recognized as One of the Nation's Leading Dental Carriers by Benefits Selling Magazine Readers

Medical News (via PRIMEZONE) — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 14:00:00 +0100

NEW YORK, Nov. 19, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), one of the largest mutual life insurers and a leading provider of employee benefits, today announced that it has been recognized by the readers of Benefits Selling magazine as one of the nation's leading dental insurance carriers for the second consecutive year. (Source: Medical News (via PRIMEZONE))

Scholarship Recipients Stories Underscore Need for Parents to Include Life Insurance in Financial Plan

Disabled World — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 19:56:35 +0100

LIFE Foundation Awards $105,000 in Scholarships to 59 Students Struggling to Pay for College Due to the Death of a Parent. (Source: Disabled World)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Find the best January Sales in the UK.

Judge: Reliance On Record Reviews Was Reasonable

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:39:21 +0100

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - An ERISA-governed disability insurer that relied on record reviews in its decision to terminate benefits to a claimant with back problems acted reasonably, a Michigan federal judge ruled Oct. 19 (Jaci Richards v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, No. 1:09-CV-953, W.D. Mich.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 111634). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Administrative Record Supports Benefit Denial, Colorado Federal Judge Says

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:39:21 +0100

DENVER - The administrative record supports an ERISA-governed disability insurer's decision to deny benefits to a claimant with hyperthyroidism, a Colorado federal judge ruled Oct. 15, finding that the plan administrator properly relied on record reviews (Cynthia Merriam v. Life Insurance Company of North America, No. 08-cv-0363, D. Colo.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 110021). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Kentucky Federal Judge Finds Amount In Controversy Not Met

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 06:39:21 +0100

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A claimant's entitlement to future disability benefits cannot be included in the calculation to meet the federal jurisdiction amount in controversy requirement, a Kentucky federal judge ruled Oct. 25 (Lafone Jones v. Life Insurance Company of North America, No. 3:10-cv-361, W.D. Ky.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 11385). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Investing In Death? Lawmakers Say Stop

WDSU.com - Health — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 05:55:41 +0100

Attorneys squared off in New York's top court, arguing whether the state law prohibits people from buying life insurance policies and immediately selling them to investors who make money when the insured person dies. (Source: WDSU.com - Health)

Reported excess weight loss after bariatric surgery could vary significantly depending on calculation method: a plea for standardization

Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 23:00:00 +0100

Conclusion: For a given postoperative weight loss, significant variance will be found in the %EWL (≤17%), depending on the definition of IBW used and the preoperative weight value used. This highlights the need for a standardized approach for reporting weight loss in bariatric studies. Investigators should define their methods clearly, and readers should keep this variability in mind when interpreting the %EWL. (Source: Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases)

MedWorm Sponsor Message: Please support the Doctors In Chains campaign for the medics tortured and sentenced for up to 15 years in Bahrain. #FreeDoctors

Medical Reviews Support Benefit Denial, Kansas Federal Magistrate Says

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:14:03 +0100

KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The medical evidence and the opinions of reviewing physicians support an ERISA-governed insurer's denial of benefits to a claimant with back pain and cognitive issues, a Kansas federal magistrate judge ruled Sept. 30 (Daryoush Tamizkar v. American United Life Insurance Co., No. 09-2128, D. Kan.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 103717). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Reliance On Video Surveillance Was Arbitrary, Michigan Federal Judge Holds

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:14:03 +0100

DETROIT - A disability insurer's decision to terminate benefits based on 22 minutes of video surveillance is arbitrary and capricious, a Michigan federal judge ruled Sept. 28 (Gail Lewandowski v. Companion Life Insurance Co., No. 08-11538, E.D. Mich.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 102762). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Judge Finds Disability Plan Governed By ERISA, Dismisses Bad Faith Claim

LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News — Tue, 12 Oct 2010 19:14:03 +0100

SAN DIEGO - Finding that a short-term disability plan did not meet all of the necessary safe harbor conditions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), a California federal judge on Sept. 16 ruled that the plan was governed by the act and, therefore, preempted an insured's bad faith claim against his insurers (Ruben Gonzales v. Unum Life Insurance Company of America, et al., No. 09-cv-468, S.D. Calif.; 2010 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 96795). Full story on lexis.com (Source: LexisNexis® Mealey's™ Disability Insurance Legal News)

Vikki L. Pryor Named CEO Of American Red Cross In Greater New York

Health News from Medical News Today — Fri, 01 Oct 2010 12:00:00 +0100

The American Red Cross in Greater New York named Vikki L. Pryor as its new chief executive officer. Recognized as one of the 50 most powerful women in New York by Crains New York Magazine in 2009, Ms. Pryor was most recently president and chief executive officer of SBLI USA Mutual Life Insurance Company in New York for 11 years. The first African American woman to head a major life insurance company in the U.S... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)