You hoped you would never need to use it, but having a long-term disability (LTD) insurance policy gave you peace of mind that you would be taken care of if you became unable to work because of an injury or illness. However, you are now shocked to discover that your LTD claim has been denied. How could this happen? Shouldn’t you be covered?
Unfortunately, insurance companies do not want to pay on these claims and will do anything in their power to deny your application for benefits. In fact, it is not uncommon for people to have to go through multiple levels of appeal to fight for the benefits they deserve. However, you don’t have to go through this process alone, and we highly recommend that you don’t. At Gibbons Law Group, PLLC, our attorneys are here to help with your LTD appeal to give you the advantage you need when fighting an insurance company that simply does not want to pay your claim.
Why LTD Claims Are Denied
Insurance companies deny LTD claims for a variety of reasons, some of which are unfair and illegal. Some of the most common reasons for claim denials include the following:
- Insufficient medical evidence. You will have to paint as complete a picture as possible of your injury or illness, including a history of regular doctor visits, proof of participation in recommended treatments, comprehensive medical records, and detailed statements from your doctor confirming that you are unable to work. If the insurance company does not have all of this evidence when you initially apply, they will likely deny your claim. Our attorneys will make sure you have complete medical evidence when you appeal the denial.
- Failure to meet the definition of disabled. The insurance company will try to claim that you are not actually disabled according to the terms of your policy, which may exclude certain conditions from coverage and require you to change professions to find work you can do. We can make sure you have a proper diagnosis of your condition and that your physical or psychological limitations are documented and verified by a doctor and vocational expert.
- Conflicting evidence. The insurance company may hire someone to follow you, videotape you engaging in various activities, and monitor your social media activity to try to catch you doing things they believe are inconsistent with your disability claim. Our attorneys will advise you on how to protect yourself from such intrusion and will provide counter-evidence to support your claim whenever possible.
- Missed deadlines. From the day your claim is denied, you must act quickly to gather evidence and file an appeal. If you miss a deadline, you will lose your opportunity to appeal and file suit. It is vital that you get an attorney on board as soon as you get notice of denial so that all deadlines are met.
There are many other reasons insurance companies will use to deny your claim, but when you work with Gibbons Law Group, PLLC, you can be sure we are prepared to handle anything they throw at us. Most of these appeals will fall under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and will be subject to strict rules and regulations that our team is very familiar with.
Contact Us Today
You are relying on your LTD insurance to provide the support you need after a serious injury or illness. When your claim is denied, it’s imperative that you talk to a long-term disability attorney as soon as possible. The appeals process is not easy, but we can help. In Charlotte, the long-term disability attorneys at Gibbons Law Group, PLLC are available to build a strong appeal and give you the best chance of success. Give us a call at (704) 612-0038 or fill out our contact form to see how we can help you. We are here for you today!