The process of applying for long term disability benefits is difficult and complicated, and can be especially stressful if you are injured or disabled. When bills pile up and you are unable to work, attempting to navigate through disability insurance can be taxing. Fortunately, when you work with a trusted LTD attorney, receiving the compensation that you deserve can go from seemingly impossible to being quite simple.
Long term disability can be especially complex because through such programs you are required to demonstrate your specific injuries and disabilities as well as why they prevent you from working, through what may seem like endless paperwork. First, you will need to consult with a physician. It is important to be sure that you and your doctor are on the same page, and that you have an accurate medical record that is consistent with your timeline and symptoms. When applying for LTD be sure to use full disclosure with your doctor, as it will be important later that every detail of your symptoms and their severity has been recorded. After your work is done an LTD attorney can help ease your troubles by collecting all documents, including medical records, employment records and doctors’ recommendations so that you don’t have to.
Once all information has been obtained, your LTD attorney can explain to you what it all means. Your attorney can walk you through your documents and the application process, which can consist of confusing wording and hard-to-answer questions that may be crucial to your situation.
As mentioned previously, the LTD claims process can be difficult to navigate. Often times, people file insurance claims without the help of an attorney, and suffer from the unethical insurance bad faith practices. Fortunately, there are steps to avoid being a victim of vague and confusing insurance claims.
- Keep detailed notes of your interactions
- Maintain a record of phone calls, e-mails and letters
- Compile all of your medical records and doctors’ notes
- Be sure to understand your coverage policy
- Keep them informed of changes to your condition
- Remember that you have the right to independent medical care
- Stand up for your rights – do not be intimidated into dropping your claim
- Note that it’s possible to file an initial claim, but it’s much easier with a lawyer
- Hire an attorney if you have had your claim denied
Though it is possible to apply for long term disability benefits on your own, you will maximize your results and ease stresses by hiring a skilled LTD attorney to guide you through the complex and time-consuming process. If you have been injured, or have become disabled and are unable to pay bills and other expenses, learn more about your legal options using a long term disability legal resource provided by Burke, Harvey & Frankowski, LLC. They leverage more than 50 years of combined litigation experience fighting the insurance companies to honor the policies and benefits outlined in policyholders’ contracts.