How Do I Appeal a Denial of My Long Term Disability Claim?

When you make a long term disability insurance claim, you cannot be faulted for assuming your provider will pay out benefits when you need them. Unfortunately, this assumption is often mistaken.

Surprising injuries can happen at any time. When these injuries are significant, it can take months or even years to completely recover. In some cases, a full recovery is not an option. If you find yourself suffering from such an injury, a denied long term disability claim could be devastating for you.

The good news is that you are not without options. These policies allow for appeals when a claim is denied. With the help of a qualified personal injury law firm, your appeal could result in the benefits you are entitled to. Consider the following steps before moving forward with an appeal.

Review your policy

The process of appealing the denial of a long term disability claim is set by your insurance policy. Before you take any other steps, be sure to familiarize yourself with the process. This includes making note of any important deadlines. There is likely a time limit to file an appeal according to your policy.

Your insurance policy could have a wide range of important information about the appeals process. It should be noted this language can be complex; a personal injury lawyer from Preszler Injury Lawyers is ready to help you to decipher it and determine what it means for your long term disability benefits claim.

Communicate with your employer

When your disability insurance provider denies your claim, they will also inform your employer. In turn, your employer will contact you in writing about your timeline for returning to work. What comes next depends on your employer. You have the right to inform them that you are appealing the denial of your claim. Many employers will do little more than keep you on unpaid sick leave. Others will take a more aggressive approach. If your employer informs you that they consider you to be abandoning your position and intend to terminate you, you have limited time to act. Contact your doctor to obtain a new doctor’s note regarding your condition as proof your injury has not healed.

Prepare your appeal

The process of appealing denied long term disability claims usually centers around documents. Many of those documents will be generated by the insurance company. This includes your policy and your denial letter related to this claim.

The most important documents involve your medical records. Any medical records related to the injury that brought about your disability will be important to your claim. These records can go beyond the treatment of your current illness or injury. If your current injury worsened a pre-existing condition, your prior medical records might also be relevant. You will need to compile all the relevant documentation before filing an appeal.

Consider your other options

With any luck, your appeal will result in the denial being overturned. However, the appeals process can take time. It is important to prepare for the future, regardless of whether your claim is successful. This means exploring your other options outside of disability insurance.

For starters, there could be other insurance policies that might cover some of your costs should your disability claim be denied. If that is not the case, you might qualify for other government benefits. Finally, many financial institutions offer short-term loans for those waiting on a disability claim decision.

File your appeal with the help of a lawyer

Once you are ready, the final step is to formally appeal the decision. However, doing so without the guidance of a long term disability lawyer could be a mistake. Small errors could result in the denial of your claim. With so much at stake, let Preszler Injury Lawyers walk you through the appeals process.

Preszler Injury Lawyers has experience taking on the ICBC and the insurance companies. We know what is at stake, and we take our role as your advocate seriously. We look forward to using our experience to help fight for the compensation you are owed. Please call our law offices as soon as possible for a no-cost consultation.