If you have a valid insurance claim and your insurance company denies it without a good reason, you may be a victim of insurance bad faith. This is a serious violation of the law that can cause you financial and emotional harm.
One of these issues often revolves around insurance companies wanting to come to their client’s home for tests.
Insurance bad faith
Insurance bad faith is a legal term referring to incidents in which an insurance company fails to fulfill its obligations to its policyholders in a fair and honest manner. This can include denying a claim without a reasonable basis or proper investigation or delaying payment of a claim or offering a lowball settlement.
It can also include misrepresenting the terms or coverage of a policy, refusing to defend or indemnify a policyholder in a lawsuit, cancelling or non-renewing a policy without proper notice or cause.
Oklahoma law
Insurance bad faith is illegal under Oklahoma law. According to Title 36, Section 3629, of the Oklahoma Statutes, an insurance company has a duty to act in good faith and deal fairly with its policyholders. If it fails to do so, it can be held liable for the actual damage caused by its conduct, as well as punitive damages and attorney fees.
What about coming to my house for tests?
One of the common questions that people have about insurance bad faith is whether it is normal for an Oklahoma insurance company to come to their house to take blood and urine tests. The answer is: it depends.
Some types of insurance, such as life insurance or health insurance, may require a medical exam as part of the application process. This is to assess your health status and risk factors and determine your eligibility and premium rates.
In this case, the insurance company has the right to request blood and urine tests, and you have the right to refuse them. However, refusing them may result in your application being denied or your premium being higher.
Other types of insurance, such as auto insurance or homeowners’ insurance, do not usually require a medical exam. However, if you file a claim for injuries or damages, the insurance company may ask you to undergo blood and urine tests to verify your claim. For example, if you are injured in a car accident and seek compensation from your auto insurance company, they may want to test you for drugs or alcohol to see if you were impaired at the time of the accident.
In this case, the insurance company has the right to request blood and urine tests, but you also have the right to refuse. However, refusing them may result in your claim being denied or reduced.