Up to 25 percent of today’s younger workers will develop illnesses or suffer injuries that will render them disabled and unable to return to their jobs at some point during their careers. People who are savvy often purchase long-term disability insurance to protect themselves in the case that the unexpected occurs. If you have long-term disability coverage and need to make a claim, you may benefit by getting legal help. Osterhout Berger Disability Law is proud to help Cape Coral, Florida residents with their disability claims and appeals.
Appealing a Denial of LTD Benefits
Insurance companies sometimes deny claims in an effort to minimize their losses. If you are denied, your company will send a notice of its decision to you by mail. This letter is very important because it will contain information about why the company denied you along with how you can appeal the decision. Most insurance companies have at least one or two levels of appeal for denials within their companies. You must exhaust the in-house appeals before you will be allowed to file a lawsuit against the company in court. Make sure to note the deadline for appealing that is listed in your letter. If you miss it, you will be barred from seeking to recover benefits for your condition from the company in the future.
Things to Keep in Mind
When you are appealing your claim, make sure that you avoid the common errors and do the things that are important to your ultimate success. Do not react to receiving your denial by firing off an appeal without first reviewing your policy and your claim file. You should ask your company to send you a copy of your file and review it. It will include all of the evidence that the company has gathered about your claim, including the information it relied on to deny it. It is also important for you to get help from one of our experienced attorneys. Our lawyers understand how to supplement your file with favorable evidence in order to improve your chances of approval.
You should be careful with what you say when you talk about your claim to your company. Insurance companies can use the things that you say against you during its decision-making process. It is best to keep all of your correspondence with the company in writing and to keep copies of everything that you send and receive. When you submit documents, make sure to use certified, return-receipt mail so that you have documentation of what you sent and when you did.
Getting the Benefits you Deserve
Working with the experienced team at Osterhout Berger Disability Law can improve the likelihood that you will recover the benefits that you deserve. When you are working with your knowledgeable attorney, it will be important that you take care of your responsibilities. Your lawyer may ask you to submit to additional medical examinations and objective tests such as MRIs, x-rays and functional assessments. Make sure that you follow through, and don’t stop seeing your doctor or attending your follow-up appointments.
Finally, honesty about your condition and your symptoms is a key factor in your success. Don’t make the mistake of exaggerating the severity of your symptoms or your pain. Insurance companies readily identify exaggerations and may believe that you are malingering. If your company thinks that you are being less than honest, it will be much more difficult for you to win approval of your appeal. Call Osterhout Berger Disability Law today to schedule your consultation with our experienced team.
