Lebau & Neuworth helps Maryland employees fight for the health insurance coverage they were promised, including denied claims, COBRA rights, and ERISA‑protected benefits. Our firm regularly represents workers to help restore coverage and secure the benefits they have earned.
Lebau & Neuworth has handled many claims involving health insurance losses and reductions. Our employment lawyers understand how to read plan documents, policy language, and government guidance to determine whether your health insurance benefits are protected and what options you have to fix the problem. If you’re dealing with health insurance issues, reach out to our team today to discuss your options.
What Is COBRA and Who Does It Apply To?
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, also known as COBRA, gives many employees and their dependents the right to keep their group health insurance for a limited time after job loss, reduced hours, or certain life events, as long as they pay the required premiums. Employers must provide timely, accurate COBRA notices and make continuation coverage available when the law applies. Failing to do so can expose employers to penalties and liability for medical expenses.
The experienced lawyers of Lebau & Neuworth know how COBRA works and regularly represent employees whose COBRA notices were late, confusing, never sent, or whose coverage was terminated early. We also counsel workers who are unsure whether their situation qualifies for COBRA and what other options exist when an employer claims COBRA does not apply.
ERISA and Employer-Sponsored Plan Protections
Most employer‑sponsored health plans are governed by the Federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which sets strict rules for how benefits must be administered and how claims and appeals are handled. ERISA also limits many state‑law claims, so it is important to work with lawyers who know how to protect your rights within ERISA’s procedures and deadlines.
Lebau & Neuworth is recognized for representing employees and plan participants in ERISA litigation, including cases involving misused plan funds, misrepresentations about the scope of coverage, and wrongful denials of medical claims. The firm has recovered substantial amounts for workers and their families when plan sponsors and insurers breached their fiduciary duties or refused to pay valid health‑related benefits.
What to Do If Your Health Insurance Was Wrongfully Denied
When your health insurance claim is denied or coverage is suddenly cut off, acting quickly can make a real difference in the outcome. Deadlines for internal appeals under ERISA and COBRA can be short, and missing them can limit or even bar your ability to challenge the denial in court.
Common Employer Violations
Common employer violations include:
- Failing to enroll you in the plan after you become eligible
- Misclassifying you to avoid providing benefits
- Terminating coverage without proper notice
- Refusing continuation coverage after qualifying events like a layoff or reduction in hours
Employers and plans may also violate the law by misrepresenting coverage limits, applying exclusions that are not in the plan documents, or steering employees away from filing formal claims and appeals.
Documenting Your Claim
To protect your rights, it is important to gather all relevant documents, including plan summaries, enrollment forms, COBRA notices, denial letters, benefits statements, and any emails or portal messages about your coverage.
Keeping a written timeline of phone calls, promises made by HR or the insurer, and medical bills that went unpaid helps your lawyer identify violations and calculate what you are owed.
Legal Protections After Job Loss or Retaliation
Loss of health coverage often follows job loss, disciplinary action, or retaliation. Because of the implications of these circumstances, additional legal claims may arise beyond the benefits dispute itself. If coverage was cut off because you complained about discrimination, requested an accommodation, reported unlawful conduct, or asserted wage or leave rights, you may have remedies under federal and Maryland employment laws.
Can You Sue If You Lost Health Insurance After FMLA Leave?
If your employer terminates your health insurance or refuses to reinstate your coverage after you used protected leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), you may be able to sue for lost benefits and other damages. Employers covered by FMLA generally must maintain your group health insurance on the same terms while you are on qualifying leave and restore you to equivalent coverage when you return.
Employer Discrimination and Healthcare Coverage
Employers cannot use health coverage to punish or discriminate against workers based on protected characteristics such as race, age, disability, sex, or other protected statuses. Singling out employees for coverage termination, denying dependent coverage, or manipulating eligibility rules for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons may violate both employment discrimination laws and ERISA.
How a Health Insurance Benefits Lawyer Can Help
A health insurance benefits lawyer can help you understand the full scope of your rights, evaluate potential claims, and navigate confusing administrative and court procedures. Having experienced employee rights lawyers on your side will allow us to communicate with insurers, employers, and plan administrators on your behalf, which often leads to faster resolutions and can prevent further harmful mistakes.
Reinstating Benefits
In many cases, Lebau & Neuworth can urge employers and insurers to reinstate improperly terminated coverage, correct enrollment errors, or approve previously denied medical claims. When appropriate, the firm also pursues reimbursement for out‑of‑pocket medical bills and seeks to restore dependent coverage unfairly cut off.
Filing an ERISA or COBRA Claim
If informal efforts do not resolve the problem, your lawyers can file ERISA benefits claims, COBRA enforcement actions, or related lawsuits in court to enforce your rights. These cases may seek payment of benefits, statutory penalties for COBRA notice violations, and attorney’s fees so that employees are not burdened with the cost of enforcing the law.
Why Choose Lebau & Neuworth?
Lebau & Neuworth focuses on protecting employees and plan participants, not employers or insurance companies. Our employment lawyers bring decades of experience handling ERISA, COBRA, and Maryland‑specific benefit issues, and have obtained significant recoveries in court and through negotiation.
Our Experience in Benefit Litigation
Lebau & Neuworth is one of a small number of Maryland law firms that regularly litigates complex ERISA and benefit cases on behalf of employees. This experience allows our attorneys to recognize patterns in employer and insurer misconduct and develop strong strategies for challenging wrongful health insurance decisions.
If your health insurance has been denied, reduced, or improperly terminated, you can contact Lebau & Neuworth to discuss your situation and learn more about your options for moving forward.
