Comments on: Heath Ledger’s life insurance company dragging its feet over paying claim http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/ Stylish celebrity escapism Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:24:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: John http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-1174501 John Tue, 03 Aug 2010 17:20:48 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-1174501 This is actually horrific. This whole process seems way to dragged out. It appears that insurance companies will do anything in their power to avoid paying up and actually "insuring" people. This is actually horrific. This whole process seems way to dragged out. It appears that insurance companies will do anything in their power to avoid paying up and actually “insuring” people.

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]]> By: Andrew http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-399944 Andrew Wed, 29 Jul 2009 06:28:11 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-399944 Sad story. The insurance company will do the utmost not to pay money. It any more the first similar case. And trial in court can be tightened for very long time. The insurance company can be understood (but not to justify). If to pay to everyone on $10 mil it is possible to become the bankrupt quickly. Sad story. The insurance company will do the utmost not to pay money. It any more the first similar case. And trial in court can be tightened for very long time.
The insurance company can be understood (but not to justify). If to pay to everyone on $10 mil it is possible to become the bankrupt quickly.

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]]> By: Nick P http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-319880 Nick P Thu, 21 May 2009 02:42:08 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-319880 As a <a href="http://www.georgiainsuranceoptions.com" rel="nofollow">Georgia insurance</a> agent specializing in life and health insurance, I can say that this one's standard operating procedure. Anytime an insured dies of non-natural causes on a claim this large, the insurance company performs an investigation. 99 times out of a hundred, the claim is paid just fine - I think this one's been blown out of proportion by folks who just don't particularly care for insurance companies. As a Georgia insurance agent specializing in life and health insurance, I can say that this one’s standard operating procedure. Anytime an insured dies of non-natural causes on a claim this large, the insurance company performs an investigation. 99 times out of a hundred, the claim is paid just fine – I think this one’s been blown out of proportion by folks who just don’t particularly care for insurance companies.

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]]> By: Bob Jim http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-119023 Bob Jim Tue, 14 Oct 2008 10:09:59 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-119023 really interesting post cheers really interesting post cheers

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]]> By: Liana http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-110468 Liana Wed, 01 Oct 2008 05:51:41 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-110468 Although my legal knowledge is not specifically in estates per se, or even specifically US law (I'm Australian), the insurers may have a leg to stand on under the "material misrepresentation" claim (although not likely the "suicide" claim, as the death was ruled 'accidental'.) If he lied about his prescription drug use (and on the balance of probabilities this is fairly likely, since this representation was made 6 months before he died of a prescription drug overdose...) then denying the extent of his prescription drug use is probably a material misrepresentation, seeing as it was that very behaviour that led to his death. The insurers would have had a right to know about his drug use, seeing as it was so severe that it ended up causing his death. In the alternative, and he wasn't on any drugs at the time he took the policy out (remembering that it was only 6 months before he died), I would guarantee that his policy contract included an ongoing disclosure clause, requiring him to tell the insurers if any of his circumstances change at all. We're talking about a $10 million dollar contract here; there's no way the insurers would leave themselves unprotected in any way at all. I'm not defending the actions of the insurers, and I am aware that these tactics are employed against many, many claimants, but the whole issue ought to highlight to people just how important it is to be frankly honest when taking out these policies, even when telling a small lie could reduce your premium. Never give them a leg to stand on when they inevitably take you to court. Although my legal knowledge is not specifically in estates per se, or even specifically US law (I’m Australian), the insurers may have a leg to stand on under the “material misrepresentation” claim (although not likely the “suicide” claim, as the death was ruled ‘accidental’.)

If he lied about his prescription drug use (and on the balance of probabilities this is fairly likely, since this representation was made 6 months before he died of a prescription drug overdose…) then denying the extent of his prescription drug use is probably a material misrepresentation, seeing as it was that very behaviour that led to his death. The insurers would have had a right to know about his drug use, seeing as it was so severe that it ended up causing his death.

In the alternative, and he wasn’t on any drugs at the time he took the policy out (remembering that it was only 6 months before he died), I would guarantee that his policy contract included an ongoing disclosure clause, requiring him to tell the insurers if any of his circumstances change at all. We’re talking about a $10 million dollar contract here; there’s no way the insurers would leave themselves unprotected in any way at all.

I’m not defending the actions of the insurers, and I am aware that these tactics are employed against many, many claimants, but the whole issue ought to highlight to people just how important it is to be frankly honest when taking out these policies, even when telling a small lie could reduce your premium. Never give them a leg to stand on when they inevitably take you to court.

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]]> By: Bodhi http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-109924 Bodhi Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:57:15 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-109924 What a bunch of BS. The company isn't doing itself any favors by dragging this out. They will have to pay something eventually What a bunch of BS. The company isn’t doing itself any favors by dragging this out. They will have to pay something eventually

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]]> By: Jo http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-109644 Jo Tue, 30 Sep 2008 01:40:34 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-109644 You show me how many people with Insurance policies that AREN'T on meds of some kind. These days mostly Anti -Depressants. It's known he was doing well, just had trouble sleeping. He wasn't an abuser of drugs. The coroner stated accidental death. They are just dragging their feet. But, that what they do. :twisted: You show me how many people with Insurance policies that AREN’T on meds of some kind. These days mostly Anti -Depressants. It’s known he was doing well, just had trouble sleeping. He wasn’t an abuser of drugs. The coroner stated accidental death. They are just dragging their feet. But, that what they do. :twisted:

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]]> By: Carena http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-109556 Carena Mon, 29 Sep 2008 23:03:27 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-109556 The only difference here is that they can afford good lawyers so they will get their money. These insurance companies pull this all the time with "normal people" who can't afford to be in court a year or more. They hope you drop the claim rather than fight it out for such a long time. If the examiner said accident, it is an accident and they should pay. Period. The only difference here is that they can afford good lawyers so they will get their money.

These insurance companies pull this all the time with “normal people” who can’t afford to be in court a year or more. They hope you drop the claim rather than fight it out for such a long time.

If the examiner said accident, it is an accident and they should pay. Period.

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]]> By: daisy424 http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-109521 daisy424 Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:06:38 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-109521 Fat cat insurance company pricks, rot in hell. Fat cat insurance company pricks, rot in hell.

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]]> By: Lola http://www.celebitchy.com/14459/heath_ledgers_life_insurance_company_dragging_its_feet_over_paying_claim/#comment-109510 Lola Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:40:49 +0000 http://www.celebitchy.com/?p=14459#comment-109510 I hate insurance companies. I don't know why it still hurts when I read anything about Heath or see his picture or his daughter. I am a huge fan of his and I just loved the guy. He had great chemistry with Michelle too. Look at them, they were so perfect together. Why oh why do these things happen? I hate insurance companies. I don’t know why it still hurts when I read anything about Heath or see his picture or his daughter. I am a huge fan of his and I just loved the guy. He had great chemistry with Michelle too. Look at them, they were so perfect together. Why oh why do these things happen?

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