New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire, including the Manchester and Concord 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 New Hampshire. If you would like to learn more about the disability claim process or insurance bad faith in other states, please visit our homepage.
Does New Hampshire Recognize Insurance Bad Faith?
New Hampshire recognizes bad faith in certain circumstances. As explained by the Supreme Court of New Hampshire, “[a] breach of contract standing alone does not give rise to a tort action; however, if the facts constituting the breach of the contract also constitute a breach of duty owed by the defendant to the plaintiff independent of the contract, a separate tort claim will lie.” Bennett v. ITT Hartford Grp., Inc., 150 N.H. 753, 757, 846 A.2d 560, 564 (2004) (internal citations omitted).
As just a few examples of additional rules and limitations that the Supreme Court of New Hampshire has set, the Court has determined that “allegations of an insurer’s wrongful refusal to settle or delay in settling a first-party claim do not state a cause of action in tort.” Id. At the same time, the Supreme Court of New Hampshire has also recognized that “full payment of the policy limits does not necessarily satisfy the contractual obligation of good faith; and, the damages recoverable for an insurer’s breach of a contractual obligation of good faith and fair dealing may exceed the amount the insurer would have had to pay in the performance of the contract.” Id. Thus, in New Hampshire, what is being claimed and asked for as recovery is important.
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 New Hampshire Disability Insurance Cases
Mut. Ben. Life Ins. Co. v. Gruette, 129 N.H. 317, 529 A.2d 870 (1987) (New Hampshire policyholder failed to disclose that he had other disability insurance coverage when applying for a second disability policy, in order to get a higher monthly benefit under the second policy; the disability insurance company discovered this and rescinded/voided his disability policy; the court ruled in favor of the insurer and determined it was reasonable for the insurer to base max benefits on a certain percentage of the applicant’s income and to factor in other insurance coverage).
Burt v. Aetna Cas. & Sur. Co., 112 N.H. 29, 290 A.2d 49 (1972) (New Hampshire mill worker filed for disability due to a ruptured disc and subsequent back injury; his disability policy only covered disabilities that were not otherwise covered by workers’ compensation benefits; he first claimed under workers’ compensation and it was contested then settled; he then tried to submit a claim under the disability policy; the appellate court held in favor of the disability insurer and determined that the trial court should have required an expert and should not have submitted the case to a jury).
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?
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?
New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire, but there may be satellite courthouses that are closer to where you live.
Concord. 55 Pleasant Street, Room 110, Concord, NH 03301.
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
Anesthesiologists | Attorneys | Cardiologists | Chief Medical Directors | Chiropractors | Commercial Real Estate Brokers | Corporate Executives | Emergency Medicine | Endodontists | Gastroenterologists | General Dentists | Gynecologists | Internal Medicine | Neurologists | Neurosurgeons | Obstetricians | Ophthalmologists | Oral Surgeons | Orthodontists | Orthopedic Surgeons | Otolaryngologists | Physical Therapists | Podiatrists | Professional Athletes | Prosthodontists | Psychiatrists | Psychologists | Pulmonologists | Radiation Oncologists | Radiologists | Rheumatologists | Veterinarians
Physician Claims & Resources | Dentist Claims & Resources
Disability Insurance Companies
Aetna | AIG | Allstate | Anthem | American General | Ameritas | Berkshire Insurance Group | Boston Mutual | Cigna/LINA | Colonial Life | Connecticut General | Davies Life & Health/Disability Management Services, Inc. | Disability Reinsurance Management | First Unum | Fortis | Great West | Guardian Life | Hartford | Jefferson | John Hancock | Liberty Mutual | Lloyd’s of London | Mass Casualty | Mass Mutual | MetLife | Monarch | Mutual of Omaha | National Life of Vermont | New York Life | New England Life | Northwestern Mutual Life | Ohio National | Paul Revere | Penn Mutual | Phoenix Life Insurance | Principal Life | Provident | Prudential | Reassurance America | Reliance | Reliance Standard | Sedgwick | Standard | Sun Life | The Equitable Life | Transamerica | Trustmark | Trustmark Disability Advisors | Union Central | Unum | UnumProvident
Disabling Conditions
Aneurysms | Anxiety/Panic Attacks | Angina Pectoris/Ischemia | Arthritis (Osteo, Psoriatic, Rheumatoid) | Atrial Fibrillation (AF) | Autoimmune Disorders | Bipolar Disorder | Brachial Plexus Injuries | Bulging Discs (Cervical/Lumbar) | Bursitis | Cancer | Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) | Cervical/Neck Pain | Crohn’s Disease/IBD | Complex Regional Pain Syndrome | Congestive Heart Failure | Coronary Artery Disease | Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) | Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) | Dislocated Elbow/Shoulder | Dislocated Hip/Hip Replacement | Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) | Essential Tremors | Focal Dystonia | Ganglion Cysts | Glaucoma | Hand/Arm Pain – NOS | Head Trauma/Cognitive Difficulties | Hearing Loss | Herniated Discs (Cervical/Lumbar) | Ligament Tears | Long-Haul COVID | Lumbar/Back Pain | Lyme Disease | Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) | Macular Degeneration | Meniere’s Disease | Migraines | Multiple Sclerosis (MS) | Musculoskeletal Disorders | Myasthenia Gravis (MG) | Myelopathy (Cervical/Lumbar) | Myofascial Pain Syndrome | Nerve Impingement/Entrapment | Neuroma | Orthostatic Hypertension/Hypotension | Osteoarthritis | Paresthesia/Dysesthesia | Parkinson’s Disease | Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) | Posterior Tibial Tendon Dysfunction | Posterior Vitreous Detachment (PVD) | Radiculopathy (Cervical/Lumbar) | Repetitive Stress Injuries | Retinal Detachment/Floaters | Rotator Cuff Injury/Tears | Sciatica | Scoliosis | Serotonin Syndrome | Shoulder/Back/Neck Pain – NOS | Sleep Apnea | Spondylolisthesis | Spondylosis | Stenosis (Spinal/Foraminal) | Stroke | Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) | Traumatic Injuries | Tumors | Ulnar Neuropathy | Vertigo/BPPV | Visual Impairment
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.