Most workplaces prepare themselves for the possibility that an employee may suddenly be unable to work due to illness or personal injury.
Disability Insurance is designed to restore a portion of lost income you may endure after a personal injury or sudden illness which has left you disabled for a prolonged period of time. These programs are often part of an employee’s benefits package, instated by an employer’s Human Resources or the Bargaining Agent representative of an employee’s union.
If you or a loved one have been suddenly injured or become sick, you may qualify for the offered benefits provided under your Disability Insurance Plan. The first step, always, is to contact your insurance company and complete a claim form.
Insurance companies are thorough and expect to be provided with any and all information you may have that verifies your disability (medical documentation, police reports, etc.). All the provided information is gathered to accept or deny your claim, as well as access any further rehabilitation and recovery needs you may be entitled to.
Claims that are submitted are followed up often by a telephone call where an Insurance representative will overview your claim and ask any questions they may have regarding the provided information. Third parties, such as your employer and doctors, may be contacted as well.
It takes roughly two weeks for an Insurance company to access and approve/deny your claim.
If your claim is approved, the majority of benefits are paid out on a monthly basis, following an elimination period (~13 weeks of total disability) or when your paid sick leave ends.
If your claim is denied, you will be advised in writing and are often given an outline of what further information is needed to appeal the decision. Depending on the insurance company, there may be several levels of appeal, passing through different reviews of management.
Regardless of any final decisions on your disability claim, if you have been denied, this does not mean:
- The Insurance company is in the right
- You do not qualify for the financial and medical security and support you should be receiving from your Insurance company.
If your long term disability claim has been denied or you feel that you or a loved one have been wrongfully denied long-term disability, then we highly suggest you contact a Disability Claim Attorney.
Further, if you have any questions or concerns regarding a filed disability claim, or how to begin the appeal process to a denied disability claim, TSF Law are here to help. Please Contact Us for any questions.
