Bass v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance

Opinion

BURKE, J.

In this case we discuss the responsibility of an employer and its group insurer toward employees entitled to coverage under group disability and life insurance programs negotiated by employee labor unions. Here, decedent J. T. Bass evidently waived coverage under a 1964 group plan offered by his employer, Ford Motor Company, despite the fact that such insurance was offered free of charge to all employees.

The question presented herein is whether Ford, and defendant insurer, John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Company, were entitled to rely upon that waiver as a continuing one,…