Additional Parts Of A Claim That Do Not Happen in Every Case

If you have a disability insurance plan through your church or a religiously affiliated organization, you may be wondering if it’s covered by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). Understanding whether ERISA applies to your plan is important because it can affect how claims are handled, your rights under the plan, and your legal …

When navigating the complexities of severance packages and long-term disability insurance benefit claims, individuals often face many challenging decisions and uncertainties. Particularly – what happens when you’re presented with a severance offer while simultaneously pursuing a long-term disability insurance claim? If you sign the …

It is not uncommon for a disability insurance company to order a peer review during the long-term disability appeal process. If your insurer has requested a peer review report, you may have received a letter that states something like: “We are writing to update you of the status of your appeal request for the above …

According to the Mental Health Foundation, nearly one in three people with a long-term physical condition also has a mental condition. Claimants with both mental and physical conditions may be concerned that their insurance company will apply a mental and nervous limitation to their long-term disability insurance claim. A mental health limitation …

Living abroad can be an exciting adventure, but it can also be a bit nerve-wracking if you’re relying on long-term disability insurance benefits to provide you with income. Fortunately, if you have an individual or group long-term disability insurance policy, you may still be able to collect benefits while living outside of the United States. …

What Is an Independent Medical Examination? An independent medical examination (IME) is an exam performed by a medical professional not currently associated with your case. However, we don’t like using the term “independent” when referring to a medical examination ordered by a disability insurance company.  The word independent is …

Long-term disability insurance companies are well-known for hiring third-party investigators to put claimants under surveillance. They spend millions of dollars on surveillance to save billions in long-term disability claims. They want to “catch” you doing something you “shouldn’t,” like taking out the trash or enjoying your grandchild’s …

Social media has become how we share our lives with the world. Long gone are the days of printing and mailing pictures to family and friends. Now, with the click of a button, you can share photos or even live stream videos on social media, which creates a way for families to stay connected even …

In the context of this article, it’s important to distinguish between long-term disability buyout and settlement offers. A buyout offer is extended by the insurance company while you are actively receiving long-term disability benefits. A settlement offer, on the other hand, arises when you have been fully denied these benefits and …

Many claimants ask why the insurance company uses a vocational consultant when reviewing a claim. Isn’t the main issue whether you have a medical disability and you’re medically disabled under the policy? This is a very legitimate question. In this article, we discuss why a vocational assessment from a vocational consultant is a …

An insurance company may elect to have your long-term disability claim analyzed by a “peer review” physician, who could potentially challenge the opinions given by your primary healthcare providers. But what exactly is a peer review report in the context of a long-term disability claim? Unlike an Independent Medical Examination, this is a …