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Filing for Long-Term Disability Benefits? Read This First

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Disability — Consultation With The Professional in El Cajon, CA
A long-term disability insurance policy is a wise investment for anyone — particularly those who are self-employed or high-earners. Unfortunately, the possibility that you'll need that policy someday is probably higher than you think. So is the possibility that your insurance company will try to unfairly deny your claim once you become disabled.

Here are the facts you need to know about filing for your long-term disability benefits.

You Simply Cannot Afford an Unfair Denial 

The Social Security Administration predicts that one out of every four 20-year-olds today will become disabled at some point before reaching retirement age. Now consider that nearly half of all Americans don't have enough money put away to cover a $400 emergency bill and that it can take up to five months to even get an initial decision if you apply for Social Security Disability benefits.

For these reasons, private disability benefits may be the only thing that will keep you and your family financially afloat during your time of need.

Insurance Companies Often Take Advantage of Consumers’ Ignorance

Insurance companies have to make money to survive— which means that they need to take in more money than they pay out in claims. That's why it's the insurance adjuster's job to deny a disability claim for any possible reason. Since many consumers don't understand their policies, the rules for filing, or their legal rights if they've been denied, an initial denial is common.

Long-Term Disability Claims Get Denied for Predictable Reasons

So many insurance companies use the same reasons to deny disability benefits that many of them have become predictable. Since they're predictable, they're often avoidable. 

Some of the most frequent reasons insurers deny initial claims for disability benefits include:

1. Lack of understanding of the policy. Review your policy to see exactly what qualifies as a long-term disability. This is key to presenting information about your condition in language that will fit the criteria the reviewer needs to see in order to approve your claim.
2. Excluded conditions. For example, your policy may exclude payment for drug addiction or alcoholism. However, if you have another disabling condition that led to your addiction, like a severe back injury, denying you because of that addiction could still be unfair.
3. Incomplete applications. Sometimes claims are denied on technicalities simply because a claimant forgot to fill in a blank or two. Make certain the entire application is complete before you submit it the first time.
4. Missing documentation. If your doctor doesn't provide the insurance company with your medical records on a timely basis, the insurance company will deny your claim. Be persistent about following up on records requests at your doctor's office.
5. Lack of medical support. Is your doctor supportive of your claim? A detailed letter that explains all of your work-related limitations can vastly improve your chances of a positive outcome when you file for benefits.

Keep this in mind: the predictability of some of these denials gives you an advantage if you work with an attorney who represents clients with long-term disability plans. An experienced legal eye can often spot a problem with a claim before it reaches the insurer.

Don't Fall Prey to Common Mistakes Applicants for Disability Make

Finally, don’t become your own worst enemy when you file. Your claim can get denied if you fail to follow your doctor's instructions or skip medical appointments. You may also be subject to video surveillance, so be conscious of how whatever you do may look on camera.

Most important, do not allow a denied claim to go unchallenged. Pay close attention to the deadline for an appeal and get immediate legal assistance.
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