Hartford LTD Benefits Reinstated After Wrongful Termination
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Table of Contents
Success Story
At the Law Office of Justin C. Frankel, P.C., we represent disability claimants whose benefits have been wrongfully denied or terminated by insurance companies. One recent success involved overturning Hartford’s decision to terminate a client’s long-term disability benefits after years of approved claim payments. Through a comprehensive appeal supported by strong medical, vocational, and legal evidence, we successfully obtained a reversal of Hartford’s determination and secured the reinstatement of our client’s benefits.
The Problem: Benefits Terminated Despite Ongoing Disability
Like many disability insurers, Hartford attempted to justify terminating benefits by relying heavily on internal reviews and paper-based record evaluations while discounting the extensive evidence provided by the claimant’s treating physicians. The insurer asserted that the medical evidence no longer supported disability, despite documentation showing ongoing symptoms, functional limitations, and continued treatment.
Unfortunately, this scenario is all too common. Insurance companies often focus on isolated pieces of information while overlooking the totality of the evidence. They may disregard the opinions of doctors who have treated a claimant for years, minimize the impact of chronic symptoms, rely on consultants who never examine the claimant, and mischaracterize the actual demands of the claimant’s occupation. In this case, Hartford’s decision suffered from many of those same deficiencies.
Our Strategy: Building a Comprehensive Appeal
Our firm immediately undertook a detailed review of the claim file and identified numerous flaws in Hartford’s analysis. Rather than simply responding to Hartford’s conclusions, we built a comprehensive appeal designed to demonstrate why the termination decision could not withstand scrutiny.
Our appeal focused on several critical areas:
- Demonstrating that the claimant continued to suffer from significant medical impairments and functional restrictions.
- Presenting extensive supporting records from treating physicians and specialists who had firsthand knowledge of the claimant’s condition.
- Highlighting objective medical evidence that corroborated the claimant’s ongoing limitations.
- Explaining how the claimant’s symptoms and restrictions prevented the reliable performance of the material duties of their occupation.
- Exposing Hartford’s reliance on paper reviews and opinions from consultants who never personally evaluated the claimant.
- Challenging the insurer’s selective interpretation of the medical evidence.
- Emphasizing that Hartford lacked evidence showing any meaningful improvement that would justify terminating previously approved benefits.
- Citing applicable ERISA principles and case law requiring a full and fair review of disability claims.
Why We Won
The appeal ultimately succeeded because the evidence overwhelmingly established that the claimant remained disabled under the terms of the policy. Hartford was unable to overcome the consistent opinions of treating medical providers, the substantial medical documentation supporting disability, and the lack of evidence demonstrating recovery or restored work capacity.
Our firm also successfully demonstrated that Hartford’s review process was fundamentally flawed. The insurer’s decision relied on assumptions and selective evidence rather than a balanced evaluation of the entire record. When confronted with the complete medical picture and the applicable legal standards, Hartford was forced to reverse course and reinstate benefits.
The Result
As a result of our appeal, Hartford reinstated the claimant’s long-term disability benefits, restoring critical financial support and security. More importantly, the outcome ensured that the claimant received the benefits to which they were entitled under the policy after a wrongful termination of coverage.
Our Commitment to Disability Claimants
This case highlights a principle we see repeatedly, insurance companies do not always get it right. When benefits are terminated, it does not mean the end of a claim. A carefully developed appeal that combines compelling medical evidence, occupational analysis, and strong legal advocacy can often overturn a wrongful decision.
At the Law Office of Justin C. Frankel, P.C., we are committed to holding disability insurers accountable. Our team thoroughly investigates every denial and termination, identifies weaknesses in the insurer’s analysis, develops the strongest possible evidentiary record, and fights to obtain the benefits our clients deserve. This successful reinstatement is just one example of how a strategic and evidence-driven appeal can transform a wrongful termination into a victory for the insured.
Contact the Law Office of Justin C. Frankel today for a free consultation (516) 222-1600 and learn how an experienced ERISA disability attorney can help protect your rights and maximize your chances of success.
Justin C. Frankel is the founder of the Law Office of Justin C. Frankel, PC, a Long Island, New York headquartered law firm representing clients nationwide in disability insurance claims. For more information please go to our website www.jfrankellaw.com.
Written By Justin C. Frankel
Justin C. Frankel is committed to fighting for the rights of clients when their long term disability insurance claims have been denied, delayed or terminated. His entire legal career is focused on representing long term disability insurance policy owners. His clients are treated with the utmost of concern and care during very difficult times.
