Over 50 million Americans have a mental illness. Despite this overwhelming number, the denial of health insurance coverage for mental health treatment continues to be extremely common, despite federal and state parity laws that are supposed to ensure fairness. On January 26, 2022, our client was admitted to a residential treatment program for teens and […]
ProPublica released a scathing article on March 25, 2023, detailing the manner by which Cigna has systematically denied hundreds of thousands of medical claims in recent years by using automated systems which allow Cigna doctors to “instantly reject a claim on medical grounds without opening the patient file.” Claimants were left with unexpected bills and […]
Health insurance benefits are meant to cover the costs of necessary healthcare in the event of illness or injury. But what if your limited health insurance provider network makes the benefits impossible to obtain?More and more often we are seeing health insurance policies which have insufficient provider networks. If a health insurance policy provides benefits […]
make mental health & well-being for all a global priority“We must strengthen mental health care so that the full spectrum of mental health needs is met through a community-based network of accessible, affordable and quality services and supports.Stigma and discrimination continue to be a barrier to social inclusion and access to the right care; importantly, […]
If you find yourself confused about health insurance terms, you are not alone. A recent Forbes Advisor survey of 2,000 Americans who have health insurance found that over three-quarters of the people surveyed could not identify the term “coinsurance” and nearly half struggled to define the terms copayment and deductible.Kantor & Kantor works with patients […]
What is Long-Term Care InsuranceLong-Term Care Insurance provides coverage for elderly or chronically ill individuals who are unable to perform daily activities such as dressing, bathing or eating, or who have cognitive deficits which require them to be supervised for their own safety. These policies are often purchased decades before such coverage will be utilized […]
Knowing Your Rights and Protections Against Surprise Medical BillsOften, we hear from people who have received “surprise medical bills.” This blog will help you understand how you can avoid surprise medical bills, what protections you have against balance billing, and some tips to avoid balance billing altogether.What is Balance Billing?When you see a doctor or […]
In 1972, Congress passed legislation to provide automatic increases linked to a rise in consumer prices. Recipients would no longer have to wait for Congress to take action to receive an increase. The first automatic increases to Social Security benefits took effect in 1975. After 1982, cost of living adjustments (“COLAs”) were effective for December […]
I highly recommend the NPR series, “Bill of the Month,” which offers an expert analysis of medical bill surprises.This month’s bill concerns jaw surgery and a hospital bill of more than $27,000. The patient, Ely Bair, had a condition requiring two jaw surgeries. The first jaw surgery went very well and Bair paid his out-of […]
Your ERISA Watch – What a Difference Discretion MakesMayer v. Ringler Assocs. Inc., No. 20-1281, __, F.4th __, 2021 WL 3556473 (2d Cir. Aug. 12, 2021) (Before Circuit Judges Walker, Sack, and Menashi).This week’s notable decision demonstrates the uphill battle ERISA claimants face in litigation with insurers over their employee benefits, particularly where courts apply […]
