Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma, including the Oklahoma City and Tulsa 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 Oklahoma. If you would like to learn more about the disability claim process or insurance bad faith in other states, please visit our homepage.

Does Oklahoma Recognize Insurance Bad Faith?

Oklahoma recognizes that insurers have “an implied-in-law duty of good faith and fair dealing.” Hensley v. State Farm Fire & Cas. Co., 2017 OK 57, ¶¶ 16-24, 398 P.3d 11, 17–19.

As explained by the Oklahoma Supreme Court, “[t]he insurer’s duty may arise from one of three possible sources” including a “failure to meet its obligation for payment created by (1) an express promise to pay in the insurance contract, (2) a promise implied in fact, or (3) a promise implied in law.” Id.

Additionally, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has held that “an alleged breach of an insurer’s promise to pay, whether express or implied, is not sufficient to show a breach of the implied duty of good faith because the implied-in-law duty of good faith and fair dealing does not extend to a person merely because that person is entitled to payment from insurance proceeds.” 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 Oklahoma Disability Insurance Cases

Hollaway v. UNUM Life Ins. Co. of Am., 2003 OK 90, 89 P.3d 1022 as corrected (Oct. 31, 2003) (Oklahoma physician applied for disability benefits under a Unum group long term disability policy; Dr. Hollaway asserted a bad faith claim and Unum claimed that bad faith damages were preempted by ERISA; the court held in Unum’s favor recognizing that the “result here may seem harsh” but pointed out that “it is a consequence of a federal statute which contains one of the broadest preemption clauses ever enacted by Congress” and, as a result, “[t]he breadth of ERISA’s preemption clause often results in plan beneficiaries or participants being left without a meaningful remedy”).

Cont’l Cas. Co. v. Hunt, 1996 OK 33, 913 P.2d 292 (Oklahoma policyholder became disabled due to severe hypertensive heart disease; his policy had an offset provision for Social Security Disability benefits and his insurer insisted that he reapply even though his first Social Security claim had been denied; he applied again and was again denied; they forced him to apply again and on the third attempt he was awarded a lump-sum of back benefits; the company asked him to repay $54,000 of the lump sum to it pursuant to a reimbursement agreement he had signed; when he did not, they filed a lawsuit against him to recover it; the court found that under applicable law the reimbursement agreement was an unlawful assignment of disability back benefits).

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?

Oklahoma 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 Oklahoma, but there may be satellite courthouses that are closer to where you live.

Muskogee. 101 N. 5th Street, Room 208, Muskogee, OK 74401.

Tulsa. Page Belcher Federal Building, 333 W. 4th Street, Room 411, Tulsa, OK 74103; Boulder Building, 224 S. Boulder Avenue, Tulsa, OK 74103.

Oklahoma City. 200 N.W. 4th Street, Oklahoma City, OK 73102.

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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