World War II Veteran Denied Long-Term Care Benefits by CNA

92-year-old blind man was forced to spend $60,000 of own money to get the care he needed

Newport Beach, CA – June 16, 2014 – A lawsuit was filed in Orange County Superior Court that accused Continental Casualty Company (better known as CNA) of denying a 92-year-old World War II veteran the benefits due him under his long-term care policy.

William Crawford has been a customer of CNA for over 20 years. He began suffering certain health ailments, including failing eyesight which led to further complications in his life. He filed the first claim on his long-term-care policy in 2012; and, according to the lawsuit, after delaying the claim for nearly two years, CNA denied it even though all of the man’s doctors and caregivers unequivocally attest to his need for long-term care due to his blindness. As a result of the denial, Mr. Crawford has had to pay $60,000 of his own money on personal care services and has had to forego additional care which he needs.

“I feel left out in the cold by CNA,” said Mr. Crawford. “I bought this policy hoping it would help float me if things got tough, but when my body started to fail me so did they.”

Mr. Crawford, a former sailor in the U.S. Navy who served a tour of duty on torpedo boats in the South Pacific, purchased a policy from CNA in the 1990’s. He has always paid his premiums on time, and currently pays over $3,700 annually to CNA. According to the policy he purchased, he was eligible for a daily benefit of up to $145.53 for personal care services, with a lifetime benefit of over $265,500. However, after suffering an injury that required his right hip to be replaced, CNA delayed and denied his coverage, forcing him to rely on his close friend and pay out of pocket for the care for which he had paid CNA tens of thousands of dollars. CNA has paid no money for his home health care and paid out none of his long-term care benefits.

“Instead of providing care for a long-time customer, they abandoned an honorable veteran of the United States Navy,” said attorney Michael J. Bidart. “It’s disheartening to see Mr. Crawford, who sacrificed for this country, treated so poorly and have to rely on his friend another decorated veteran for assistance. Veterans can truly count on each other, but it’s shameful Mr. Crawford couldn’t count on CNA.”