Are you having difficulties with your health insurance company? Has your company denied, delayed, or underpaid your medical treatment? Has your insurer claimed your treatment is not medically necessary, investigational, or experimental? Or that your doctor is “out of network” or “not in network?” A health insurance lawyer can help. There certainly is no shortage of attorneys. The challenge is finding the right lawyer for health insurance issues. You need to find someone who is experienced in medical insurance law. Someone who understands health insurance companies and how they operate. These FAQs help you understand how to search for a health insurance lawyer in Los Angeles. They educate you about what criteria you can use to evaluate each health insurance lawyer. And they help you understand where to start and what questions to ask.
How to Find a Health Insurance Attorney
Searching for an attorney can be overwhelming. There are many attorneys in Los Angeles and it is difficult to know which ones maximize your chance of success. And to know which ones will listen to your needs and which ones are honest. The best place to start is to ask people you know. Referrals are one of the best sources of information for both services and products. If you don’t know someone who knows a health insurance attorney, turn to Google.
In Google, you can enter the search terms, “health insurance lawyer” or “health insurance denial lawyer.” Or you might search for “bad faith health insurance lawyer” or “lawyer for medical insurance claims.” Or even for “medical insurance attorney” or something like “lawyer for health insurance claims.” Of course, you can customize your search based on your specific need. Perhaps you can search for “lawyers that sue health insurance companies” or “health insurance appeal lawyer.” Google will give you a list of attorneys or firms. Now that you have a list of attorneys or firms, how do you vet them?
Does the Firm Specialize in Health Insurance Law?
Some attorneys claim they specialize in health insurance, and it is always important to verify. Google the specific lawyer’s name. Do you see multiple results in which the attorney appears to focus on completely different types of law? For example, attorneys who specialize in health insurance law by definition wouldn’t also be working on divorce or criminal law. Look at their websites and see what practice areas they work on. Research the types of cases they’ve tried and how their cases have impacted lives. Is health insurance a primary focus of the firm? Does the firm have helpful resources and FAQs in the area of health insurance? Does it give information that is helpful to your situation such as ERISA or non-ERISA cases? Can you get a free consultation about your specific situation with the firm?
What Sets the Firm Apart?
Nearly every firm highlights cases it has won. Most firms also highlight what sets them apart. Some even say, “What Sets Us Apart” or “Why Choose Us.” Look for things that are important to you. Some areas you might look for include the following:
- How long has the firm or medical insurance attorney been in practice? Of course, it is important to know the firm has been in business for a while. However, even more important is that your lead attorney is seasoned and has a successful track record. And that this person is knowledgeable and competent and has expertise as a medical insurance lawyer. Of course, awards are helpful as well.
- How well do the attorneys know the health insurance system? Have the attorneys worked on or for the “other side?” Of course, they will understand how health insurance companies operate if they have defended cases from their side.
- Are the attorneys well respected for the area of healthcare law? Do many of their cases come from other attorneys who recognize their skill in health insurance law?
- What kind of service does the firm provide clients? Is it a large firm with several support staff or is it a smaller firm that provides personalized attention? Does it handle a lot of cases at once or does it focus on fewer cases? Does it settle cases quickly or will it take as long as your case needs to maximize your results? (Timing is especially important when you work with a contingency attorney. Often contingency attorneys don’t get paid unless and until your case settles. For this reason, you want a contingency lawyer who will spend the necessary amount of time on your case.)
Does Anything Stand Out about the Firm or Attorney?
Look to see if there is anything special about the firm or attorney. Is the attorney viewed as an “expert?” Some areas you can investigate include the following:
- Has the lawyer written articles for legal publications?
- Has he or she written a book on health insurance law or how to fight health insurance denials?
- Does the attorney have a podcast?
- Has the attorney been interviewed in the media about cases or for his or her specific expertise?
- Does the attorney teach other attorneys how try cases?
- Has the firm changed the lives of many people based on results of cases?
Pay Attention to Reviews and Reputation
You can learn a lot about a firm and lawyers by what people say in reviews and testimonials. You can see these both on firm websites and on Google. Pay close attention to what people say about working with the firm and employees of the firm. Are the reviews very general or are they specific? How were reviewers treated by the firm and its employees? Who specifically did they work with? What did they like about the people they interacted with? Do the reviews highlight the health insurance specialty?
As with all professions, there are good and bad firms and attorneys. Research the reputation of the firms and the specific lawyers. A good way to do this is to put the names into Google. Does anything negative appear? Similarly, do especially positive things appear?
Interview Attorneys and Ask the Right Questions Before You Make A Hiring Decision
It is essential to understand who you will be working with and how the process proceeds. You can meet the lawyer in person (or on a video app like Zoom, Skype or Facetime). Looking into the lawyer’s eyes, you can ask questions like these.
- What will the process be like?
- What is required of you?
- How will you communicate?
- How quickly will the firm respond to you?
- Who will your lead attorney be and who will you work with day-to-day?
- How much time will the lead attorney personally spend on your case?
- Will you have regular access to the lead attorney?
- What are your chances of success?
- What are the obstacles to success?
- How many cases is the lead attorney handling?
- What is the average amount of time the attorney takes to complete a case? (You can see if they tend to settle cases quickly for less but easier money.)
In asking these questions, you will get a “gut feel” about the attorney and his or her motivations. You will sense if this person understands you and your needs and if he or she cares about your case. You will see if this person respects you, is responsive to you, and treats you with dignity and respect. And you will sense if the lawyer takes your case seriously and will fight hard for you. Ultimately, and perhaps most importantly, you will sense if you like and want to work with this person.
Check Credentials
It is always a good idea to verify that the attorney has a license to practice in your geography. In California, you can check the state bar here.
Also, make sure the attorney carries liability and/or malpractice insurance.
About the Law Offices of Scott Glovsky
The Law Offices of Scott Glovsky has represented injured consumers and victims of wrongful business practices for more than the past two decades. The firm specializes in health insurance bad faith, catastrophic personal injury, sexual abuse and consumer-related litigation. We get justice for our clients and hold the wrongdoers accountable.
For a free case evaluation, contact us.