Dearborn National Insurance Company, formerly known as Fort Dearborn Life Insurance Company, is a long term disability insurance company with a national presence. The Ortiz Law Firm represents employees and individuals when their disability insurance claims have been wrongfully denied, delayed, or terminated. We will file administrative appeals with the insurance company, and, if necessary, will file a lawsuit. We also help disability claimants negotiate lump sum settlements.
Dearborn National Disability Insurance
Disability insurance protects LTD policyholders from the loss of income resulting from an inability to work due to an accident injury or illness.
Dearborn National’s own website says, “The likelihood of an employee becoming disabled is surprising. Approximately three out of 10 employees entering the workforce today will become disabled before age 67. With those odds, disability protection is critical.” Unfortunately, Dearborn National may not always live up to its end of the bargain. Dearborn National may have wrongfully denied, delayed, or terminated (cut-off) your claim for long term disability benefits.
Definition of “Disability” in a Dearborn National Insurance Policy
The term “Disability” is defined in each individual policy. Your definition may be different than the sample one below. You should always check your own policy to determine how the insurance company defines the term “disability” in your long term disability claim. However, to give some insight into how Dearborn National may define disability, this is how it defined the term in a past policy:
How do We define Total Disability?
…
Total Disability or Totally Disabled means that during the first 24 consecutive months of benefit payments due to Sickness or Injury:
1. You are continuously unable to perform the Material and Substantial Duties of Your Regular Occupation, and
2. Your Disability Earnings, if any, are less than 20% of Your pre-disability Indexed Monthly Earnings.After the LTD Monthly Benefit has been paid for 24 consecutive months, Total Disability or Totally Disabled means that due to Injury or Sickness:
1. You are continuously unable to engage in any Gainful Occupation, and
2. Your Disability Earnings, if any, are less than 20% of Your pre-disability Indexed Monthly Earnings.
Filing a Successful Appeal When Your Dearborn National LTD Claim Has Been Denied
In the end, insurance companies exist to make money. They do so by collecting more in premiums than they pay in claims. The fewer payouts they make on claims, the more profits they keep for shareholders. If you understand this basic premise, you will have a greater understanding of why even the best-prepared disability claims can be denied. It is not personal to you.
If you receive a denial letter from Dearborn National insurance company in response to your application for benefits, do not despair and give up. You have the right to file one or more appeals directly with Dearborn through its internal appeals review process. After you have “exhausted” your appeals, you have the right to file an ERISA lawsuit.
Note: if you have an individual policy you purchased on your own (outside of a group plan), or if you are a government employee or member of a church plan, you may be exempt from ERISA regulations and have the right to file your lawsuit in state court, which affords greater protection in disability claims to you the consumer than an ERISA claim in federal court. This is why it is important to hire an attorney to explain your legal options to you.
Improve Your Chances by Consulting with an Experienced LTD Attorney
When filing a claim for LTD benefits or appealing a denial under a Dearborn National disability plan, the guidance of an experienced Dearborn National disability lawyer can be extremely helpful and improve your chances of obtaining the benefits you are entitled to receive.
Nick A. Ortiz is the founder of the Ortiz Law Firm and an experienced Dearborn National LTD claims attorney who understands the difficulties of pursuing a Dearborn National claim for LTD benefits. Mr. Ortiz has helped dozens of clients with long term disability claims. He represents clients primarily during the administrative review appeal process, and in state and federal court when a lawsuit must be filed.
Legal Help in Getting Your Dearborn National Claim Approved
When filing an application or appealing a denied claim for long term disability benefits under a Dearborn National plan, it can be helpful to have the assistance of an experienced lawyer. We work closely with our clients throughout each stage in the LTD claims process, including:
- Gathering all medical records and other documents to support the claim;
- Obtaining opinion evidence from doctors and perhaps vocational experts;
- Organizing your financial records;
- Reviewing and answering all questions on the disability claim application; and/or
- Filing your claim and/or appeal in the manner that maximizes its chance of approval.
Unfortunately, even the most severe disabilities and the best-prepared claims may be denied by Dearborn National. In the event that you receive notice of a denied claim in a denial letter, you should be aware that you have the right to file an appeal. In the event that you have exhausted your appeals with the insurance company, you may have the right to file a lawsuit under the ERISA Act.
Nick A. Ortiz is a long term disability attorney and can help you obtain the benefits you deserve. Our disability law firm offers detailed advice on the many issues related to the claims and appeals process, including:
- Helping you understand the reasons for your denial;
- Acquiring additional evidence, including medical records and other documents in support of the appeal;
- Completing the appeals paperwork;
- Filing your appeal within the time limits allowed;
- When necessary, filing an ERISA lawsuit in Federal Court; and/or
- Briefing your case for consideration by a federal judge during the ERISA lawsuit.
You don’t have to face your battle against Dearborn National alone. The Ortiz Law Firm is here to help in the appeal process.
Dearborn National Long Term Disability Attorney
Many individuals who file for LTD benefits are shocked and dismayed with the hurdles placed in front of them by Dearborn National in filing the claim. The insurance company adjuster requests more and more paperwork as part of the insurance company’s investigation into the long term disability claim. Just when you think you’ve filled out the last form, you are given yet another one to fill out.
Your doctor may begin to get annoyed with Dearborn National’s phone calls to the doctor’s office and numerous requests for the doctor to also fill out paperwork. Then, after the investigation into the claim is finally finished, Dearborn National denies the claim.
Policyholders call us very upset when they are denied the very benefits they thought would be there to protect them when they became unable to work due to an injury or illness. Most are upset or downright angry at long term disability insurance companies for their delay tactics and denials. That’s why it is important to have an experienced long term disability attorney assist you in explaining to you the reasons for the insurance company’s denial, and what you can do to fight back and win your claim.
At the Ortiz Law Firm, we know how difficult it can be to deal with all the paperwork associated with filing a long term disability claim and proving the loss. You have enough to deal with in treating your injury or illness. We also know how important these benefits are to you and your family when you are unable to work and earn an income.
Let us take on the burden of fighting the insurance company. With more than a decade of experience in dealing with insurance companies, our Dearborn National long term disability lawyer has the skills and knowledge needed to help you understand your rights under your policy in order to pursue the benefits you deserve.
If your LTD claim has been wrongfully denied or terminated, contact our office today at (888) 321-8131 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with an experienced Dearborn National disability claims lawyer.