Massachusetts Insurance Claim Denials and Jenny’s Law

Shortly after the birth of their daughter in the summer of 2004, John and Jenny Crowley took out life insurance policies with the Savings Bank Life Insurance Company of Massachusetts.

Sadly, just 1 year later, Jenny Crowley, 31, died of a particularly aggressive type of breast cancer in Oct. 2005. When John made a claim on his late wife's policy, the money was denied. The insurer's reasoning for the insurance claim denials was that even though doctors had attested to Jenny good health, she must have been sick before they agreed to insure her.

After this initial illegal claim denial, John Crowley became involved in 2 long legal battles. With the first lawsuit, Crowley fought to claim the money he deserved for his late wife's life insurance policy. With the second lawsuit, John Crowley sought to pass a Massachusetts law that stipulates that insurers must prove that a person misrepresented their health conditions during an application in order to deny a claim. 

In both cases, Crowley won. Not only did he get the insurance claim denials overturned, but a new law was named after his late wife. Under Jenny's Law-named for the late Jenny Crowley-it's illegal to deny a claim in Massachusetts, unless an insurer can prove that a patient's illness existed at the time of application.

Browse our library to learn more about insurance claim denials. 

The attorneys at Phillips & Garcia will fight for your rights in your health insurance class action lawsuit. We are committed to protecting your best interests and helping you collect the damages you need and deserve to move on with your life. If you have been treated unfairly or been a victim of cancellation of insurance, contact Phillips & Garcia today to schedule your FREE legal consultation - (877) 892-5620.