CHARLIE MINCEY, APPELLANT,
v.
NATIONAL FIDELITY LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, APPELLEE

Fla. 3d DCA | 1977-12-27
No. 76-2177
Before HENDRY, C. J., and PEARSON and HAVERFIELD, JJ.
353 So. 2d 1222 Florida District Court of Appeal, Third District (1977)

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Synopsis

This case concerns an appeal from a summary judgment granted to an insurance company in a dispute over disability policy coverage. The court affirmed the lower court's decision, finding the disability was excluded by the policy's pre-existing condition clause.


Holding

No, the policy excludes coverage for total disability resulting from a pre-existing condition if the insured received medical diagnosis or treatment for that condition within six months preceding the effective date of coverage.


Headnotes

[1] A disability insurance policy may exclude coverage for a pre-existing condition, defined as an illness or physical condition for which the insured received medical diagno…

[2] A pre-existing condition exclusion in a disability insurance policy applies when the disability commences thereafter and results from a condition for which the insured re…

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Key Quotes

“‘an illness, an injury, disease or physical condition for which the individual received medical diagnosis or treatment or would have caused a reasonably prudent person to have sought medical diagnosis or treatment within six (6) months preceding the effective date of coverage, provided, however, that disability commencing thereafter resulting from such condition shall be covered.’”

This quote defines the 'pre-existing condition' exclusion in the disability insurance policy.

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Facts & Procedural History

Charlie Mincey purchased a disability insurance policy with a credit life insurance policy. He later became totally disabled due to heart disease. The…

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Opinion of the Court
PER CURIAM.

PER CURIAM.

Plaintiff appeals a summary final judgment for the insurer in this action to determined coverage under a disability insurance policy.

In September, 1974 Charlie Mincey purchased a motor vehicle from Sheehan Buick, Inc. along with credit life insurance issued by National Fidelity Life Insurance Company, defendant appellee. The policy provided coverage in the event the insured became totally disabled due to injury or sickness, and further provided that no benefits were payable for a disability resulting from a “pre-existing condition” defined as:

“ ‘an illness, an injury, disease or physical condition for which the individual received medical diagnosis or treatment or would have caused a reasonably prudent person to have sought medical diagnosis or treatment within six (6) months preceding the effective date of coverage, provided, however, that disability commencing thereafter resulting from such condition shall be covered.’ ”

In January, 1975 Mincey became totally disabled as a result of hypertensive cardiovascular disease and congestive heart failure, and demanded the benefits under the policy. National Fidelity denied coverage under the pre-existing condition exclusion in that Mincey was diagnosed in 1967 as having heart trouble and had been receiving treatments since then. Thereupon, Mincey filed the instant action seeking a determination of his rights under the policy. Following pretrial discovery, both parties filed motions for summary judgment. After hearing, the trial judge entered judgment for National Fidelity. We affirm.

The undisputed facts as gleaned from the record demonstrate that (1) Mincey had a pre-existing condition (heart problem) for which he had received treatment within six months of the effective date of the policy (September 9, 1974); (2) the pre-existing condition resulted in total disability within less than six months of the effective date of the policy; and (3) the policy very clearly excludes coverage for total disability under such circumstances.

Affirmed.


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