When you suffer from a physical or mental condition that renders it difficult to work, you might turn to a private long-term disability insurance policy to help you get through your disability until you reach the point that you can return to work. Although a lot of these claims are granted, there’s still the possibility of seeing yours denied. After all, the insurance company is in the business of making money, and it’s costly for them to pay out on these claims. And even if your claim is granted, the insurance company might find ways to cut your benefits short, leaving you without the resources that you deserve in your time of need.
You don’t want to be left short-changed by your insurance policy. That’s why you need a strong game plan before filing your claim. Let’s look at some ways that you can increase your chances of recovering the benefits you need from your long-term disability case.
How to position yourself for a successful long-term disability claim
You shouldn’t file your claim without adequate preparation, as this could lead to claim denial. Instead, you need to thoroughly prepare by doing the following:
- Reading your policy: By carefully reading your disability policy, you’ll discover what’s covered and what’s not. Your policy should also spell out what you have to show before the insurance company will grant you benefits. By scrutinizing the terms of your policy, then, you won’t miss procedural steps, you’ll discover conditions that are excluded, and you can tailor your claim to what the insurance company wants to see before paying out benefits.
- Understanding how to utilize claim forms: Although the claim forms might seem straightforward, you shouldn’t fall for some common mistakes when completing them. For example, the insurance company might provide a small space for you to provide your statement, thereby encouraging you to keep your explanation of the situation short. If you do so, though, you might leave out important details of your case. This is intentional on the insurance company’s part. Don’t fall for it. Instead, fully write out your statement and attach additional sheets to your claim forms if necessary to do so.
- Securing supporting documentation: In an ideal world, your account of your disability would be enough to secure long-term disability benefits. In the real world, though, the insurance company is going to be skeptical of your claim, thereby requiring you to submit supporting documentation to prove your condition and its extent. It’s a good idea to discuss your condition and your intent to seek long-term disability benefits with your doctor so that they can provide you with detailed documentation about your diagnosis and prognosis, backed up by any testing that has been conducted.
- Preparing for the worst: Although you should hope that your long-term disability claim will be granted on your first try, you should also prepare yourself for the worst-case scenario, which is claim denial. If you receive a denial letter, don’t let yourself get overly discouraged. After all, you can appeal the denial and take the matter to court if warranted to do so.
Aggressively fight to secure the benefits that you need
Fighting with an insurance company can be stressful. They’re experienced in this realm and you’re not, which can leave you feeling at a disadvantage. However, you can educate yourself and surround yourself with those who know how to fight on your behalf. So, if you have questions about how to best approach your case, then now is the time to get to work building your claim.
