due to serious medical conditions, including both physical disability and mental health disorders. It can provide financial support when you need it most, helping to cover essential expenses and maintain stability during challenging times. However, receiving a long term disability denial notice for your claim can feel like the rug has been pulled out from under you. If this has happened to you, it’s important to know that an LTD denial isn’t final by default. You still have options.
A denied claim doesn’t mean your case is closed forever. With the right approach and guidance, a denied long term disability claim can be successfully appealed. This process, though complex, can force the insurance company to revisit your claim with fresh eyes and conduct a full and fair review. The disability insurance company should reconsider the full scope of your disability.
The long term disability appeal process is your opportunity to provide new evidence that supports you are unable to work due ot your disabling conditions. It is also likely your last chance to build up your file with any documentation, doctor support and other types of evidence. If the appeal is denied, your final option is to file a lawsuit and most of the time, in ERISA disability cases, you cannot enter in new evidence.
Working with an experienced long term disability claim attorney, like those you can find here at Dabdoub Law Firm, can give you the support and expertise you need to make sense of the denial. Our legal team focuses exclusively on disability insurance claims, denials, and lawsuits equipping us with the knowledge, experience, and resources to help you pursue the disability insurance benefits you deserve.
What is an LTD Claim Denial?
Receiving a denial for your long-term disability claim is disheartening. However, you should know that it’s not uncommon for insurance companies to deny valid claims, as confusing and upsetting as that might be to learn.
Disability insurance companies like to cite these reasons when denying a claim:
- Insufficient medical evidence: Disability insurance companies require detailed documentation of your medical condition, including medical records, test results, and doctors’ statements that demonstrate the restrictions and limitations that prevent you from working. If the evidence provided doesn’t fully align with the insurer’s requirements, they may reject your claim.
- Missed deadlines: Disability insurance companies have strict timeframes for filing claims and submitting requested documents, and missing even one can jeopardize your application. Errors on the insurer’s part, such as misinterpreting policy terms or overlooking information, can also result in an unjust denial.
- No reason given: Sometimes, an insurance company will get bold and deny an LTD insurance claim without even giving a reason, although this violates the law. The denial letter will simply say that the claim was denied but not explain why in any appreciable detail. If you get such a letter, talk to our lawyers immediately.
The good news is that a long-term disability claim denial doesn’t need to be final. You should not give up hope. Allow us to carefully review the denial letter you were provided, so we can pinpoint weaknesses in your claim and determine how to correct them. We also evaluate the disability insurance companies’ rationale for denying your calim and put tighter a rebuttal supportive by legal arguments and medical evidence. look for errors in the reasoning behind the denial, so we can start our process for challenging them.
What to Do After an LTD Claim Denial
If your long-term disability claim has been denied, act quickly. ERISA regulations impose strict deadlines for submittingan appeal, and missing thedeadline can result in losing your chance to challenge the decision.
Start by reaching out to our attorneys and telling us what happened. Based on the information that you tell us during an initial consultation, we can help you decide on the next steps.
You can start by gathering additional evidence to make your case stronger, such as:
- updated medical records,
- detailed statements from your doctors,
- supporting documentation from specialists who understand the impact of your condition, and
- undergoing a functional capacity evaluation or neuropsychological evaluation to demonstrate restrictions and limitations.
This evidence should demonstrate how your disability prevents you from performing your job duties and when possible, include specific restrictions and limitations to prove you meet the definition of disability outlined in your STD or LTD policy.
However, please keep in mind that once you hire our disability attorneys to handle your case, only we should be talking to the disability insurance company. If an insurance company representative tries to talk to you, direct them to us for any further communications. We know what to do and say to not jeopardize your claim’s chances of being successfully appealed.
Lawyers with Expertise in Disability Insurance Claims
This law firm has always focused only on disability insurance law. Because we specialize in long-term disability, our clients get the benefit of:
- Having an attorney who is an expert in long-term disability claims;
- Having an attorney who has experience with every major disability insurance company; and
- Being backed by a law firm that has a proven track record of winning tough disability lawsuits.
Call the Dabdoub Law Firm to get experienced disability lawyers on your side. 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.
The firm represents clients nationwide with disability claims governed by federal law, even if we are not located in your state.
Call (800) 969-0488 or contact us online to speak with an experienced disability attorney. Pay no fees or costs unless you get paid.