Illinois 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 consult with physicians, dentists, attorneys and business executives filing disability claims throughout Illinois, including the Chicago, Rockford, and Springfield areas. If you’d like to discuss your particular claim with our attorneys, we are happy to set up a free consultation.

Below are some resources for policyholders filing disability insurance claims in Illinois. If you would like to learn more about the disability claim process or insurance bad faith in other states, please visit our homepage.

Does Illinois Recognize Insurance Bad Faith?

The Supreme Court of Illinois has outlined that “an insurer’s conduct may give rise to both a breach of contract action and a separate and independent tort action.” Cramer v. Ins. Exch. Agency, 174 Ill. 2d 513, 527, 675 N.E.2d 897, 904 (1996) (internal citations omitted). That being said, “[m]ere allegations of bad faith or unreasonable and vexatious conduct, without more . . . do not constitute such a tort.” Id.

The Supreme Court of Illinois has further instructed that Illinois courts “should look beyond the legal theory asserted to the conduct forming the basis for the claim.” Id. However, “[i]n cases where a plaintiff actually alleges and proves the elements of a separate tort, a plaintiff may bring an independent tort action, such as common law fraud, for insurer misconduct.”

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 Illinois Disability Insurance Cases

Rahman v. Paul Revere Life Insurance Co., 684 F. Supp. 192 (N.D. Ill. 1988) (Illinois cardiologist whose practice focused on emergency cardiac care suffered a leg injury that prevented him from running to the bedside of patients during cardiac distress; Paul Revere/Unum refused to pay benefits but the court found that Rahman’s “‘regular’ occupation was the narrower position of an emergency cardiologist, instead of the broad field of cardiology in general” and dismissed as “irrelevant whether or not Dr. Rahman [was] able to do the duties of a general cardiologist”).

Heller v. Equitable Life Assurance Society, 833 F.2d 1253 (7^th Cir. 1987) (Illinois invasive cardiologist suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome declined to undergo corrective surgery on his left hand; the court determined that the “regular care” provision did not grant Equitable Life the right to scrutinize or direct plaintiff’s treatment).

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?

Illinois Federal District Court Locations

Professional disability claims are often filed in, or removed to, Federal Court given the amounts in controversy. When we work with local counsel to be admitted pro hac vice, we identify the courthouse that is closest to you. Below is a list of the primary Federal Courthouses in Illinois, but there may be satellite courthouses that are closer to where you live.

Springfield. 151 U.S. Courthouse, 600 E. Monroe Street, Springfield, IL 62701.

Chicago. Everett McKinley Dirksen United States Courthouse, 219 S. Dearborn Street, Chicago, IL 60604.

Rockford. Stanley J. Roszkowski United States Courthouse, 327 S. Church Street, Rockford, IL 61101.

Benton. 301 W. Main Street, Benton, IL 62812.

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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