Utah Disability Insurance Claims

We are a healthcare/professional disability insurance law firm with a national reputation for obtaining successful results for our clients. Our firm has represented physicians, dentists, lawyers, executives and other professionals throughout the country, with the goal of securing and protecting their entitlement to benefits on own-occupation disability insurance policies.

We work with physicians, dentists, attorneys and business executives filing disability claims throughout Utah, including the Salt Lake, Provo, Logan and St. George areas.

Below are some resources for policyholders filing disability insurance claims in Utah. If you’d like to discuss your particular claim with our attorneys, we are happy to set up a free consultation.

Does Utah Recognize Insurance Bad Faith?

Utah does recognize bad faith claims against insurers. As noted by the Supreme Court of Utah, “[w]hen an insurer breaches the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and the insured is thereby damaged, the insured may have a bad faith claim against the insurer.” Huitron v. Kaye, 2022 UT 36, ¶ 37, 517 P.3d 399, 405-06 (internal citations omitted).

The Supreme Court of Utah has further explained that “[b]ad faith is merely the inverse of the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing that inheres in all insurance contracts.” Id. This covenant “imposes a duty not to intentionally or purposely do anything [that] will destroy or injure the other party’s right to receive the fruits of the contract and to . . . act consistently with the agreed common purpose and the justified expectations of the other party.” Id.

The case excerpts above are not meant to be a comprehensive discussion of each state’s first-party bad faith or disability insurance law. They are merely meant to act as a resource/starting point for those interested in learning more about how insurance bad faith works in their state.

You should always speak with an attorney before making any legal arguments relating to your disability claim.

Notable Utah Disability Insurance Cases

Dewsnup v. Unum Life Ins., Case No. 2:17-cv-00126-TC (D. Utah Dec. 10, 2018) (Utah trial attorney became disabled after undergoing triple bypass surgery after a heart attack and developed constant burning pain across his chest at the incision site; on a claim form, the plaintiff indicated that he was working part-time in another capacity and could wear his seatbelt in a car, help with chores and walk on a treadmill; Unum denied claim but the court found that the capacity to perform these activities did not mean that he could do “mentally-taxing work of a trial attorney”; the court also found that just because he had stopped taking medication and was foregoing ablation and additional treatment did not mean that he was not disabled).

Morgan v. Unum Life Insurance Co. of America, No. 2:10-cv-957 DN (D. Utah Aug. 3, 2012) (Utah surgeon became disabled due to a hand injury; Unum determined that he did not qualify for total disability because he had performed in-office procedures; the court found that his minor office procedures were not part of his surgical specialty).

Common Disability Claim Questions

What should I expect when filing a disability claim?

What issues am I most likely to face handling my disability insurance claim alone?

Why are disability insurance claims made by physicians, dentists and other professionals especially targeted for denial or termination?

My disability claim was just denied. What should I do now?

What can my insurance company do when it is investigating my claim?

Do insurance companies conduct surveillance and, if so, when are they watching?

Why does my insurer want to conduct a field interview?

How can I tell if I have a true own-occupation policy?

What are the different types of disability policies?

Utah Federal District Court Locations

Professional disability claims are often filed in, or removed to, Federal Court given the amounts in controversy. Below is a list of the primary Federal Courthouses in Utah, but there may be satellite courthouses that are closer to where you live.

Salt Lake City. 351 S. W. Temple Street, Salt Lake City, UT 84101.

St. George. 206 W. Tabernacle, St. George, UT 84770.

Who Do Your Disability Insurance Attorneys Represent?

The lists below provide a representative overview of the types of professionals we represent, the disability companies we file claims with and litigate against, and a non-exhaustive list of some of the disabling conditions our prior clients have had.

Professionals

Physician Claims & Resources | Dentist Claims & Resources

Disability Insurance Companies

Disabling Conditions

The information provided above is offered purely for informational purposes. It is not intended to create or promote an attorney-client relationship, and does not constitute and should not be relied upon as legal advice.

Every claim is unique and the discussion above is only a limited summary of information that may be relevant to your claim. An experienced disability insurance attorney can help you assess your particular disability claim, or potential disability claim, and determine what options are available to you.

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