What Is the Appeals Process for a Denied LTD Claim?

If you purchased a long-term disability insurance plan through your employer and you became sick or injured and can no longer work, you expect to get the full amount of replacement income that your plan offers. However, it’s common for first-time applicants to have their claims denied by their insurance providers. Thankfully, LTD policyholders have the right to appeal insurance companies’ decisions and get a second chance at getting the compensation they deserve.

Trying to file an appeal on your own can be difficult, and many claimants may find that their appeals are denied for the same reasons as their initial claims. At Matt Hardin Law, our Nashville long-term disability insurance attorneys know the ins-and-outs of the appeals process, and we can take over your appeal and maximize your chances of getting the money you and your family need during this time.

Step-by-Step LTD Insurance Appeals Process

Although our legal team will handle the vast majority of steps during the LTD appeals process, including collecting, analyzing, and submitting most pieces of evidence, there are some things you can do to help expedite the process and improve your chances of getting maximum compensation. These steps include:

Review your policy and the denial letter

As soon as you find out that your claim was denied, request a copy of your LTD insurance policy from your employer’s human resources department. Study both documents and look any possible inconsistencies, especially if the plan specifically mentions that your condition, injury, or illness is covered.

Contact an experienced LTD insurance attorney.

The sooner you get a law firm that understands the complexities of LTD appeals involved in your case, the better. At Matt Hardin Law, our legal team can begin fighting for your rights to full compensation immediately. By going to work right away, we can build the strongest possible appeal and submit it long before deadlines arrive or important evidence disappears.

Ask about missing documentation or records

If your denial letter states that your claim was rejected due to missing documentation, find out specifically which records the insurance company needs. In many cases, insurance companies receive important records but misplace them upon arrival. Your attorney can track down lost documents and resubmit them with your appeal and get confirmation that the insurance company received all pertinent information.

Get additional tests or examinations performed if necessary

Some LTD claims are denied due to insufficient medical evidence stating that the illness or injury prevents the claimant from working. If your claim was denied due to a lack of medical evidence, find out which tests, such as x-rays, MRIs, or blood tests, can help prove the severity of your condition. The more tests and medical evidence you can provide to your attorney and to the insurance company, the better your chances may be of getting full compensation.

Consult a vocational expert

In some cases, insurance adjusters deny claims due to simply being unfamiliar with certain occupations. On paper, your symptoms and disabilities may not seem severe enough to prevent you from working—especially to someone who doesn’t fully understand the nature of your work. Getting a written letter or testimony from a vocational expert who understands the physical and mental demands of your career can serve as valuable evidence for your appeal.

Ask your doctor or specialists for written statements about the severity of your condition

Although medical records can serve as valuable evidence for LTD appeals, insurance companies can sidestep paying full compensation due to vague wording, non-descriptive language, and incomplete diagnoses at the time of your first evaluation or check-up. That’s why it’s important to get a written statement or note from the doctors and specialists who treat you on a regular basis. In plain language, they can write an explanation of why your injuries or illness prevent you from working and why you should be entitled to receive your LTD benefits.

We Stay One Step Ahead of the Insurance Company

Insurance companies are in business to maximize their profits—not pay out full settlements and benefits to the people who deserve the money. By using teams of adjusters and attorneys, insurance companies have become adept at reducing or denying payments to innocent victims who need money for things like medical bills, lost wages, and day-to-day living expenses.

At Matt Hardin Law, we believe that no one should be denied the long-term disability insurance benefits that they’re rightfully owed—especially when their family depended on their paychecks. Our Nashville long-term disability insurance lawyers know the tricks of the trade used by the insurance company to deny claims and appeals, but we stay one step ahead of them throughout the entire process.

Don’t trust just any law firm with your LTD appeal—get in touch with our experienced and dedicated legal that simply won’t take no for answer.Dial fill out a free online form today. We’re ready to fight for your rights.