Liberty Mutual Long-Term Disability Claims

The long-term disability claims process can be daunting, especially when you’re faced with a denial from Liberty Life. As one of the nation’s major insurers, Liberty Life often employs complex policies and rigorous review standards that can make obtaining benefits challenging. If your claim has been denied, you need a team that understands the nuances of Liberty Life’s procedures and knows how to navigate their specific appeal process.

At Ortiz Law Firm, we’ve handled hundreds of long-term disability claims involving Liberty Life, making us highly familiar with their approach to denying or delaying claims. Whether it’s challenging a denial, litigating a case in court, or negotiating a settlement, we know the common tactics Liberty Life uses to avoid paying benefits. Our extensive experience allows us to anticipate their moves and respond with effective strategies tailored to each unique case.

Nick Ortiz, our lead attorney, has also developed strong connections with many of the defense attorneys that Liberty Life frequently relies on. Nick is in regular contact with these attorneys—often speaking to them multiple times per week—and has built a rapport that facilitates efficient communication and case resolution. His direct access, including the ability to reach these attorneys on their cell phones, often speeds up negotiations and provides a significant advantage for our clients.

When you work with Ortiz Law Firm, you gain an ally who knows Liberty Life’s system inside and out and is prepared to fight aggressively for the benefits you deserve. If Liberty Life has wrongfully denied or terminated your claim, call us today at (888) 321-8131 to schedule a free case review. We are here to guide you through the appeals process and fight to recover your rightful benefits.

Liberty Mutual Long-Term Disability Denials

Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, also known as Liberty Life Assurance of Boston, was an insurance company that provided long-term disability insurance. In 2018, Lincoln Financial acquired Liberty Mutual’s insurance portfolio. However, not much has changed. The employees who once worked for Liberty Mutual now deny legitimate claims under a new name. For this reason, claimants should familiarize themselves with Liberty’s claim-handling processes and the tactics used to deny claims.

Just because you must stop working does not mean your monthly bills stop. If you cannot work due to an illness or injury, paying your car payment, rent or mortgage, utility bills, and more can be challenging. That is why some employers offer long-term disability insurance benefits through Liberty Mutual. If you have disability insurance, you may qualify to receive long-term disability benefits until you can return to work or have reached the end of the benefit period covered by the policy. 

Liberty Mutual’s website states that “disability insurance can help cover daily living expenses.” If you are fortunate enough to have long-term disability coverage, you may be entitled to financial support while focusing on your physical and mental well-being. However, Liberty Mutual disability benefits are not always paid out as they should be. Liberty Mutual has long been known to deny long-term disability insurance claims based on several factors.

For example, a Liberty Mutual denial letter may state that your claim was denied because of a lack of supporting documentation or information. The denial may state that the claimant’s condition fails to meet the insurance policy’s definition of disability. The insurance company may have conducted surveillance and denied coverage or cut-off benefits because of video surveillance evidence inconsistent with a disability claim. Or, the claimant may have missed a deadline and filed the disability insurance claim or appeal too late.

Liberty Mutual’s Definition of Disability

The term “disability” is defined in each long-term disability insurance policy. Your definition may be different than the sample one below. You should always check your policy to determine how your insurance company defines “disability” in your claim. However, to give some insight into how Liberty Mutual may define disability, this is how it defined the term in a past case that went to litigation:

As used in the above provision, “disability” refers to total disability, and is defined as follows:

1. That during the Elimination Period and the next 24 months of Disability the Covered Person, as a result of Injury or Sickness, is unable to perform the Material and Substantial Duties of his Own Occupation; and
2. Thereafter, the Covered Person is unable to perform, with reasonable continuity, the Material and Substantial Duties of Any Occupation.

Partial disability benefits is defined to cover situations where the covered person, as a result of injury or sickness, can:

1. Perform one or more, but not all, of the Material and Substantial Duties of his Own Occupation or Any Occupation on an Active Employment or a part-time basis; or
2. Perform all of the Material and Substantial Duties of his Own Occupation or Any Occupation on a part-time basis; and
3. Earn between 20.00% and 80.00% of his Basic Monthly Earnings.

The burden of proof in a disability claim is on the claimant. Under the same long-term disability insurance policy quoted above, the claimant was required to submit “proof” of disability, which was defined to include the following types of evidence, though the list was non-exhaustive:

1. A claim form completed and signed (or otherwise formally submitted) by the Covered Person claiming benefits;
2. An attending Physician’s statement completed and signed (or otherwise formally submitted) by the Covered Person’s attending Physician; and
3. The provision by the attending Physician of standard diagnosis, chart notes, lab findings, test results, x-rays and/or other forms of objective medical evidence in support of a claim for benefits.

Long-Term Disability Appeals and Lawsuits

Improve Your Chances of a Successful Appeal by Consulting with an Experienced LTD Attorney

When filing a claim for LTD benefits or appealing a denial under a Liberty Mutual disability plan, the guidance of an experienced Liberty Mutual disability lawyer can be beneficial 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 Liberty Mutual disability insurance attorney who understands the difficulties when pursuing a claim for benefits with an insurance company such as Liberty Mutual. Mr. Ortiz has helped dozens of clients throughout the United States with long-term disability claims. He represents clients nationwide during the administrative appeal process and in court when a lawsuit must be filed.

Get Help Getting Your Liberty Mutual Claim Approved

When appealing a denied claim for long-term disability benefits under a Liberty Mutual 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 appeal form and
• Filing your appeal in a manner that maximizes its chance of approval.

Unfortunately, even the most severe disabilities and the best-prepared claims may be denied by Liberty Mutual. If you receive notice of a denied claim in a denial letter, you should know that you have the right to file an appeal. If you have exhausted your appeals, you may have the right to file a lawsuit under the ERISA Act.

Nick A. Ortiz is an experienced 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
• Briefing your case for consideration by a federal judge during the ERISA lawsuit.

You don’t have to face your battle against Liberty Mutual alone. The Ortiz Law Firm is here to help in the appeal process. Contact our office today at (888) 321-8131 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case with an experienced Liberty Mutual long-term disability claims lawyer.