Many are asking if they can ask the insurance company to pay long term disability benefits for a few months in advance because of the coronavirus pandemic. Concerns about the coronavirus are understandable, as we are living in uncertain times.
Across the country, businesses and residents are being ordered to go on lockdown. The same may happen with disability insurance companies. But can insurance companies advance pay long term disability benefits?
Reasons to Advance Pay Long Term Disability Benefits
Most disability insurance companies were already set up with remote work capabilities due to their nationwide presence. Nonetheless, it may be possible to ask your disability insurance company to pay benefits in advance during this time.
While there is no guarantee they will do so, you will have a more compelling argument if:
- You have been on long-term disability for many years;
- You have already been awarded disability benefits from the Social Security Administration;
- You are no longer in the own occupation period of your disability insurance policy;
- Your doctors have been consistent in their opinion that you cannot return to work;
- There has been no improvement in your medical condition; or
- Your disabling condition is chronic and permanent in nature.
Reasons an Insurance Company May Want to Advance Pay Long Term Disability Benefits
We already know some disability insurance companies will advance pay long term disability claims. UNUM, for instance, will advance pay and close a claim in situations where less than a year of disability benefits are expected to be paid either because the disabled person is returning to work or the insurance policy’s maximum benefit period is near.
The logic behind advance paying and closing a claim is that the insurance company already knows it has to pay these benefits, so it might as well pay them and not have the additional costs of administering the claims. This same logic can be applied to the coronavirus situation. If you are being paid long term disability benefits for a condition that is expected to last into the foreseeable future, then advance payment makes sense for both the disabled claimant and the insurance company.
We Can Help You
All of us are experiencing difficult and unprecedented times. The entire Dabdoub Law Firm team will continue to help fight for individuals entitled to disability benefits from insurance companies.
We take our responsibility to clients very seriously and work tirelessly to get the best possible result. If you have questions about your disability claim, or are thinking of filing a claim for long term disability benefits, contact us today.
We can help with:
- Submitting a disability insurance claim;
- Appealing a long-term disability denial;
- Negotiating a lump-sum settlement; or
- Filing a lawsuit against your disability insurance company.
We represent clients nationwide with disability claims governed by federal law. Even if we are not located in your state, we can help you.
Call (800) 969-0488 to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Pay no fees or costs unless you get paid.
