« Data indicate nearly half of all violent deaths are suicides | Main | Living With Schizophrenia »
June 23, 2008
Supreme Court eases rules for challenging denied health benefits
The Christian Science Monitor (6/20, Richey) explains that the "ruling is important, because it offers guidance to federal judges presiding over lawsuits challenging medical disability and health insurance determinations in group policies." The Court said "that an apparent conflict of interest is only one of many factors that a reviewing judge must consider."
The case involved "an Ohio woman who sued MetLife, Inc. over a disability claim," the AP (6/20) notes. "She contended insurance companies have a financial incentive to deny claims, and that conflict of interest should weigh heavily in employees' favor when they challenge benefit claims in court." Dissenting to the ruling, "Justice Antonin Scalia said the court is using the wrong standard in dealing with potential conflicts of interest." He argued that "there must be evidence that a conflict improperly motivated a denial of benefits." Ohio's Columbus Dispatch (6/20, Torry) also covers the story.
Related LInks:
- "Court clarifies standards for denial of disability benefits," Warren Richey,Christian Science Monitor, June 20, 2008.
Posted by admin at June 23, 2008 03:06 AM