Long term disability benefits should help you pay for your daily needs while you focus on getting better if you can’t work because of a major illness or injury. Unfortunately, many people in Chatham find that insurance companies make it much harder than it should be to get these benefits. At Longo Lawyers, we help people whose disability claims have been denied or whose benefits have been cut off. This leaves them in a tough financial situation during one of the toughest times of their lives.
Long term disability insurance is supposed to pay you a percentage of your salary if you can’t work because of a medical condition. Most people get this coverage through their job as part of a full benefits package. Depending on the conditions of your policy and whether your condition is temporary or permanent, the insurance will usually pay you 60 to 70% of your pre-disability earnings. It could last for months, years or even until you retire.
Many consumers who pay premiums for this protection have their claims denied or benefits stopped without warning. There are many reasons why insurance companies deny disability claims and figuring out how they make decisions can be hard and frustrating. They might say your medical records don’t show enough proof that you’re disabled according to the policy’s definition. They might admit you have health problems but they might also say you can still do some kind of work, even if it’s not the same job you used to do. They use passive voice and we find use of passive voice is minimal. They are mostly direct and to use.
The main problem is that insurance companies are businesses that want to make money and their financial goals are in conflict with their obligations to policyholders. They have both legal and contractual obligations to pay valid claims but they also have reasons to keep payouts as low as possible. This is unfair since disabled people who don’t have a lawyer have a hard time getting fair treatment. Slip, Trip and Fall Accidents claims help injured individuals recover losses caused by hazardous property conditions.
At Longo Lawyers, we help people understand their rights under their disability policies and build strong arguments to fight unfair denials. A close look at your insurance policy is the first step in any scenario. The exact wording is very important because different policies have very different definitions of disability, exclusions, limitations and other phrases that affect your right to payments. To make a good plan you need to know exactly what your policy says and what protections it gives you.
Every disability claim is based on medical proof. Your doctors must write down a lot of information about your diagnosis, symptoms, treatment history, how your condition affects your ability to work and function and your prognosis. Insurance companies look closely at medical proof and often deny claims because they think there are gaps or weaknesses in the paperwork. We help our clients make sure their doctors write detailed reports that clearly show how disabled they are and why they can’t work.
After a certain amount of time, usually two years, many disability regulations change how they define disability. At first you might only need to show you can’t do your job. After the change you have to show you can’t do any job you’re qualified for based on your education, training and experience. This change often means the end of benefits since insurers say claimants could potentially work in some way even if that work isn’t actually available or suitable for them because of their constraints.
When you have been denied, there is very little time. Many people who have already lost their jobs are worried about how much it would cost to hire a lawyer. We work on long-term disability cases on a “contingency fee” basis, which means you don’t have to pay any legal fees until we win compensation for you. You don’t have to pay us up front because our fee is a percentage of what we recover. This way you can pursue your claim without worrying about money during a tough time. Spinal Cord Injury cases focus on securing resources needed for long-term care, mobility, and independence.
To fight a denial of disability you may have to negotiate with the insurance company, file an internal appeal or go to court. The best way to handle things depends on your situation. Some disputes can be settled through talks but others need to be taken to court and possibly go to trial. No matter what happens with your case we will fight for your rights and make sure you get the benefits your policy says you should.
You have options if your long-term disability claim in Chatham has been denied or ended. You don’t have to deal with the insurance company by yourself. We’re here to help you get the money you need at this hard time.