Long Term Disability Lawyers Managing Disability Claims

We Step in Your Shoes and Take Over Management of your Long Term Disability Claim

We understand the challenges that come with managing long term disability claims. Even after your disability claim is approved and you begin receiving benefits, managing the claim can feel overwhelming.

Insurance companies will continue to monitor and review claims, and that can result in a denial of long term disability benefits.

Your team at Dabdoub Law Firm will ensure your claim stays approved and paid.

We will:

1.      Review all requests for information and documents from the insurance company.

2.      Work with you and your doctors, and respond with information and documents that keeps your claim approved.

3.      Make sure your monthly long term disability check is paid on time.

What happens while you are on-claim?

With disability insurance claims, the reality is, once approved, not always approved. Disability insurance companies will continuously conduct medical reviews and vocational reviews to determine if you still qualify for disability benefits. Keep in mind, insurance companies have a financial interest in denying or terminating long term disability claims.

Here are some common challenges claimants face after benefits are approved:

1. Ongoing Documentation Requirements:
   Insurers require periodic updates on your medical condition, which may include detailed medical records, physician statements, and proof of continued disability. Failure to provide this documentation in a timely manner could result in a denial of benefits.
2. Request for outside testing and examination:
   Your disability insurance company may request that you attend an examination or test. These include: (1) an independent medical examination (IME); (2) a functional capacity evaluation (FCE); or (3) a neuropsychological evaluation.

Insurance companies choose and pay the doctor or provider they want to conduct the exam . These exams often come back with a finding that the person is no longer disabled.

1. Surveillance and Monitoring:
   Insurers frequently employ surveillance tactics, such as video recording or social media monitoring, to look for evidence that contradicts your claim of disability.
2. Policy Interpretation and Misunderstandings:
   Insurance policies are complex legal documents with vague or ambiguous language. Insurers may interpret insurance policy terms in ways that could disadvantage claimants. 

How We Manage Your Disability Claim After Approval

Once your claim is approved, our firm takes a proactive approach to managing everything. We have a dedicated department who only manage on-claim cases. This department, along with the accounting department and the attorneys, work tirelessly to keep your long term disability benefits approved and paid on time.

Here’s how we can help:

1.      Monitoring Your Policy Terms and Deadlines

Insurance policies often include strict deadlines for submitting updated documentation or completing requested evaluations. Missing a deadline, even unintentionally, could jeopardize your benefits. Our team tracks all deadlines associated with your claim and ensures all required submissions are handled accurately and on time.

2.   Assisting With Ongoing Documentation

We’ll work with you and your healthcare providers to gather and submit necessary medical records and forms that demonstrate your continued disability. Our attorneys know what to look for and present it to the insurance company in a way that aligns with your policy’s requirements, reducing the chances of denial by the insurer.

3.   Preparing You for Insurer Requests

If your insurance company requires you to undergo an IME, FCE, or some other so-called independent testing, we’ll address the legal basis for the request. We will also push back on the practicality of sending your for testing when your disability is already obvious.

If necessary, we prepare you for the process, ensuring you know what to expect and how to respond. We also review the results of these evaluations to identify and challenge any inaccuracies or unfair conclusions that could threaten your benefits.

 4.   Protecting You From Surveillance Tactics

We educate our clients about common surveillance tactics used by insurers and provide guidance on how to protect your privacy. If the insurance company attempts to use surveillance evidence against you, we’ll counter it with strong advocacy and evidence of your legitimate disability.

 5.   Reviewing and Appealing Benefit Adjustments

Insurance companies sometimes attempt to reduce or terminate benefit payments based on their interpretations of policy terms or changes in your condition. If your benefits are reduced or terminated, we’ll immediately investigate the insurer’s actions and, if necessary, submit an appeal on your behalf.

 6.   Addressing Overpayment of Disability Claims

In group disability insurance policies (short term and long term), there is almost always a section called Other Income Benefits that lists out other types of income that reduce the monthly disability benefits. The most common types of other income include:

·   Social Security Disability benefits,

·   Worker’s Compensations benefits or

·  Retirement benefits

Approval and payment of these types of claims usually result in an overpayment of the long-term disability benefits. The insurance company will do a review and calculate the overpayment of the claim retroactively and might want to reduce the monthly benefit moving forward. 

We’ll review the basis of any overpayment claim and determine whether the insurer’s demand is valid. If it’s not, we’ll fight to have the claim dismissed.

We also work to give clients options for dealing with overpayments. These options range from coming up with a repayment plan to negotiating a one-time lump sum settlement.

Focus on Your Health While We Handle the Rest

Dealing with an insurance company while managing a disability is a difficult balancing act. Dabdoub Law Firm can take that burden off of you so you can focus on your health and recovery, knowing that the experts are on your case.  

Call Dabdoub Law Firm Today

We are experts in disability insurance law and ERISA. It’s all we do!

Our dedicated team knows the tactics many disability insurance companies use to build cases against our clients. We know your rights under your disability insurance policy and how to use ERISA and disability laws to protect your long term disability benefits.