Long-term disability (LTD) insurance is a cover that protects you financially if you become sick or get involved in an accident and can no longer perform all your work duties. This cover can either be paid for by your employer or self-sponsored and grants you peace of mind because you continue earning despite your injuries or illness. 

However, the main challenge is getting compensated by the LTD insurers, who, in most cases not so eager to approve long-term disability claims. This is expected as these LTD disability carriers are private corporations, and their interest isn’t your wellbeing but instead to increase their profit margins. Due to this, it’s best to always work with a long-term disability lawyer if your compensation appeal gets denied. Below are four reasons why it’s advisable to hire a long-term disability lawyer. 

1. Assess Your Insurance Policy 

Long-term disability policies, even those issued by the same insurance firm, differ significantly. This is because different factors are considered for each policy, including; 

• Definition of disability to be entitled to benefits 
• The period that you’ll receive payments  
• How much money you’ll get in monthly payments
• Any specific conditions or restrictions 

Understanding all these factors is crucial, and this is why you must take your time and carefully read over the policy to try and better understand it. However, this is easier said than done as the LTD policies are often complex and include many requirements, making comprehending them a considerable challenge. This is why it’s best to consult a skilled LTD lawyer before claiming compensation. 

An LTD attorney at Aaron Waxman and Associates will start by going through your policy, breaking it down, and analyzing its terms. They do this by going over your case’s facts and comparing this to your policy. Once they’re done examining this, the LTD lawyer will be able to determine whether there’s enough merit to demand a disability claim. If there’s a warrant for compensation, they’ll advise which kind of evidence to collect to increase the chances of your disability claim being accepted. 

When working with Aaron Waxman, you’ll also be able to identify the possible complications or issues that may arise when filing for an LTD claim. This includes your condition or specific issues with your policy, and they’ll use these issues to build a solid case to try and reduce their impact. 

2. Never Miss A Deadline

If your disability insurance claim has been denied, it’s best to contact an LTD attorney immediately. This is vital as insurance companies are infamous for giving denied policyholders a short timeframe to appeal the decision. In some cases, this period can be as short as 60 days, while the maximum duration given is usually 180 days after the denial of your appeal. If you fail to appeal within the allocated period, your case will be closed, and you won’t receive any compensation. 

Therefore, you should contact an LTD lawyer right away after being denied your disability claim. Doing this gives your legal team enough time to meticulously and quickly prepare a complete and accurate document that’s handed over on time. 

3. Collect Evidence For Your Claim 

The insurance company should collect medical records on your behalf to document your disability. This evidence collection process needs to be done correctly and ensure that all the additional evidence forms are submitted accurately and thoroughly. Doing this is even more important if your LTD claim has been denied. This is because the collected evidence will show that your illness or injury is indeed hindering you from doing your work duties. 

This task of collecting the evidence is best handled by an LTD attorney because unlike the LTD insurance company has your best interest at heart. They do this by preparing, collecting, and submitting essential documentation such as;

• Vocational expert statements 
• Medical records
• Prescription medication records 
• Police reports 
• Witness statements 
• Rehabilitation and physical therapy records 
• Statements from your surgeons, doctors, and nurses 

With all this evidence in hand, the LTD lawyer can prove beyond reasonable doubt how your illness or injury has impacted your ability to work and daily life. 

4. Deal With Insurance Companies On Your Behalf 

Insurance companies are notorious and can do everything within their ability to try and discredit your claim for compensation from a long-term illness or injury. Some of the tricky techniques they use include having you secretly followed by a private investigator who takes pictures and records videos while you’re doing everyday activities such as shopping for groceries. Consequently, they might edit these pictures or videos and use them as a reason for denying you your deserved compensation. 

But with an LTD lawyer with you, this isn’t something you’ll experience as they know and understand the deceitful tricks used by insurance companies. Therefore, they’ll know how to handle them and ensure you’re granted your compensation.    

Takeaway 

If your long-term disability insurance claim has been denied, it’s best to get in touch with an LTD lawyer. Unlike the insurance companies, these attorneys will have your best interest and ensure that you’re compensated for your long-term injury or illness. If you didn’t see the need for an LTD lawyer, this guide has highlighted why you should hire one.