Long-Term Care Insurance Lawyers
Because of the enormous cost of nursing home care, many people purchase long-term care insurance. These policies cover skilled nursing care in a policyholder's home as well as care in residential nursing homes.
At Pillsbury & Levinson, LLP, our attorneys represent clients whose insurance companies refuse to honor the terms of their long-term care insurance policies, as well as those who have been victimized by a "bait-and-switch" tactic. Unfortunately, some insurance companies take advantage of the fact that many people seeking Long-Term Care benefits are disabled, elderly and vulnerable. We seek to level the playing field for those insureds by aggressively advocating for their rights against unreasonable insurance practices.
Lowering Levels of Care
The quality and level of care required is a frequent issue in disputes over long-term care insurance. While the policyholder may need — and has coverage for — care at a residential care facility with around-the-clock nursing care, the insurance company may insist that this high level of care is not required and that having a nurse stop by the policyholder's house for an hour a day will suffice.
Cancelling Policies
After paying premiums for years, a policyholder who makes a claim on a long-term care insurance policy may not only have the claim denied, but also have the policy cancelled retroactively. Called rescission, this practice leaves the former policyholder without insurance and unable to obtain similar insurance from other company.
Bait and Switch
We have represented clients who purchased long-term care insurance in their 40s or 50s and paid premiums for 10 years. By that time, the policy was paid up and no further premiums were due. In order to increase profits, some insurance companies persuaded owners of these paid-up long-term care policies to switch to a different insurance product that required payment of a substantial premium.
Unreasonable claim denials, rescission and policy switching can all be instances of insurance bad faith because they are not in the best interest of the insured. If you are having these or other problems with your long-term care insurance company, please contact Pillsbury & Levinson, LLP to discuss your case. From our office in San Francisco, our lawyers represent policyholders throughout California.
