Approximately half of all Americans receive health insurance coverage for themselves and their families through a group health plan provided by an employer. However, certain circumstances, such as a change in job or marital status, may put your health coverage at...
Year: 2019
Benefit of uninsured motorist coverage
Auto accidents in Texas are rarely simple matters. The claims process can overwhelm you and sorting out who is responsible for what is complex. Situations that involve an uninsured motorist are even more challenging. At Jon Michael Smith, we often help clients file...
Does the DPTA really protect you?
If you believe you have been subjected to fraud by someone masquerading as an insurance company, the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DPTA) is supposedly in place to protect you. However, the language on the Attorney General’s website states that you only have a...
4 ways an attorney can help with a denied insurance claim
After getting into a car crash or other accident in Austin, Texas, you may assume the at-fault party’s insurance company will cover your damages. However, insurance companies often use deny-and-delay tactics to avoid payouts. You have options if an insurance company...
An attorney can help with complex ERISA claims
When you need to file a claim for your employee insurance benefits in Texas, it may fall under the Employee Retirement Income Act of 1974, also known as ERISA. While ERISA was intended to protect employees by compelling employers to responsibly manage their benefits,...
How can a preexisting condition affect a disability claim?
The state of Texas offers disability insurance in the form of the Texas Income Protection Plan or TIPP. In order to qualify for coverage under TIPP, you need to be an active employee suffering from a non-occupational or occupational illness or injury. The Employees...
How much life insurance do you really need?
It is a good idea for all Texas residents to have some type of life insurance, but you should also have a good idea what you need before an insurance agent tries to sell you on a policy you do not need. It is hard to know where to start, but according to Policygenius,...
How does a disability policy define disability?
One way long term disability coverage defines disability is through the various ways your disability limits your options for returning to work. Some policies will pay out if your disability only prevents you from working at your current job. Other policies, however,...
Can you prepare for a run-in with an underinsured driver?
Although you may be fully insured with the right coverage every time you hit the roads in Texas, the truth is that many drivers on the road are not. According to Allstate and a study done by the Insurance Research Council, up to one in eight drivers are uninsured....
How do you access your benefits after retiring in Texas?
You have worked your whole life and, as you near retirement, you are depending on the benefits you earned through your pension or employment-based plans for support. Accessing these benefits, however, is not as simple as just retiring from your job. Therefore, you...