• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Before Header

Has your disability claim been wrongfully denied or terminated? Call us today for help!  (888) 321-8131

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

OLF Ortiz Law Firm National Disability Attorneys

We appeal wrongful long term disability insurance and Social Security Disability denials.

  • ABOUT US
    • Our Team
    • Our Results
    • Areas We Serve
    • Core Values
  • PRACTICE AREAS
    • Administrative Appeals
    • Lawsuits
    • Lump Sum Settlement Offers
  • RESOURCES
    • Top 10 Mistakes That Will Destroy Your LTD Claim
    • Disability Insurance Appeal Guide
    • Physical RFC Form
    • Mental RFC Form
    • Lump Sum Disability Buyout Calculator
  • BLOG
    • Long Term Disability Denials and Appeals
    • Medical Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
    • Eligibility for Long Term Disability Claims
    • Your Chances of Getting Approved for Disability Benefits
    • Additional Parts Of A Claim That Do Not Happen in Every Case
  • Search
  • CONTACT

Mobile Menu

Schedule A Free Consultation Now!

(888) 321-8131

  • ABOUT US
    • Areas We Serve
    • Client Reviews and Video Testimonials
    • Our Team
      • Nick Ortiz
    • Our Office
    • Core Values
    • Referring Attorney Program
  • PRACTICE AREAS
    • Long Term Disability
      • Administrative Appeals
      • Lawsuits
      • Lump-Sum Buyout Offers
    • Social Security Disability Claims
      • Initial Applications
      • Request for Reconsideration
      • Hearing Before an Administrative Law Judge
    • Personal Injury Claims
  • DISABLING CONDITIONS
    • Long Term Disability
    • Social Security Disability
  • INSURANCE CARRIERS
    • Cigna
    • Guardian
    • Hartford
    • Lincoln Financial
    • Matrix Absence Management
    • MetLife
    • Mutual of Omaha
    • Northwestern Mutual
    • New York Life
    • Principal
    • Prudential
    • Reliance Standard
    • Standard
    • Unum
  • RESOURCES
    • Blog
    • Free Downloads
    • Lump Sum Disability Buyout Calculator
    • FAQ: Long Term Disability
    • FAQ: Social Security Disability
    • Abbreviations in Social Security Disability Claims
  • Search
  • CONTACT
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
You are here: Home / Long Term Disability Frequently Asked Questions / Should I Send Multiple Doctor’s Letters to The Insurance Company?

Should I Send Multiple Doctor’s Letters to The Insurance Company?

The simple answer is “yes”. If you are seeing multiple doctors for your disability, they can and should each provide a doctor’s letter. In fact, it is a “best practice” to have at least two doctors provide you with a doctor’s letter to give the insurance company. For example, if you are being treated by your primary doctor and a cardiologist for a heart condition, you should ask both to provide you with letters. And if you are also seeing another specialist – like a hematologist, or blood doctor, you should also request a letter from that doctor.

When requesting doctors’ letters, it is best to request them from doctors that have a relationship with you. A doctor’s letter from someone you only saw once may not carry as much weight. For example, if you only saw a cardiac surgeon one time to perform surgery and the surgeon was not involved in your ongoing care, then that doctor’s opinions may not add much value to your disability claim.

It is not appropriate to ask doctors that treated you in the past, well before your disability, to provide a statement. Similarly, the statements from your physicians should only reference your current disability and you should consider whether the doctor mentions medical conditions that might either (a) have a restricted time limit for the payment of benefits or (b) exclude you from coverage because it is a “pre-existing condition”.

For example, let’s say your policy restricts payments for mental health disorders to 24 months of payments. If you ask your primary (who has been your doctor for the past 12 years) to write a statement, you may not want the doctor to mention mental health problems like depression if your physical problems are disabling on their own, separate and apart from the depression.

Moreover, if your claim has a “pre-existing exclusion” clause that may apply to your case, you may not want your doctor to include in a letter comments about a prior injury that could prevent you from qualifying for benefits. This has the potential to be used against you by the insurance company to claim you had a pre-existing condition that contributed to your disability.

Make sure that your doctors write the right kind of statement, which is referred to as an evidence statement. A good quality statement from your doctor will help your case when applying for long term disability. Your medical source statement should include:

  • Physical and mental limitations from your disability;
  • Reference objective medical evidence to prove limitations;
  • Explanation of how the evidence supports their conclusions;
  • The treatment plan for your disability; and
  • Examples of supporting evidence such as lab results, x-rays, MRI and CT scan results.

There is also a report that can help answer many of the same questions, and it’s usually required by the insurance company, called a Residual Functional Capacity (RFC) report. This report should not replace your doctor’s letters but provide additional evidence that supports your doctor’s statements.

A Residual Functional Capacity report will answer questions like:

  • How much can you lift? How often can you lift it?
  • How much can you carry? How often can you carry it?
  • How far can you walk without resting?
  • How long can you stand or sit at a time?
  • Can you bend, stoop, kneel, or reach overhead?

You can provide as many letters from your doctors as you think are necessary to prove your case. Request good quality statements from your treating doctors and ask them to cover your limitations, provide medical evidence, and outline your treatment plan.

Most long term disability claims are denied based on the lack of medical evidence. Work with your doctor’s office to be sure you have everything you need to have your claim approved.

In Conclusion

Sending more than one doctor’s letter is completely acceptable and encouraged if you are being treated by multiple doctors for your disability. Using the guidelines we provided above, you can help build a strong claim and get approved much quicker.

If you need help, we can provide you with a free consultation call with no obligation to use our firm. During the call, we will answer any questions you may have. If you choose to use our law firm, we won’t get paid until you do!

The experienced disability attorneys at the Ortiz Law Firm can help you through the disability denial and appeals process. They only get paid if you win. You can seek help without worrying about upfront costs or unexpected bills. Our law experts will focus on your case so you can focus on your illness.

The Ortiz Law Firm has successfully represented people in disability cases across the United States. To see how we can help you win your long term disability case, call us at  (866) 853-7210.

FacebookTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail

Primary Sidebar

Top Ten Mistakes That Will Destroy Your Long Term Disability Claim

View All Long Term Disability Insurance Resources

Kate Hauser handled my LTD appeal and got my benefits reinstated. The Ortiz team is professional, thorough, and all-around amazing. They made the whole ordeal a lot less stressful, and I’m so thankful to have found them.

Kristen S.

View All Reviews and Testimonials

Complete This CONFIDENTIAL Form or Call (866) 480-3440 for a FREE Case Evaluation

0 of 350
GET HELP NOW

Learn More About Long Term Disability

  • Areas We Serve
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Denials and Appeals
  • Your Chances of Getting Approved
  • Medical Eligibility
  • Additional Parts That Do Not Happen in Every Case
  • Medical Conditions That May Qualify
  • Long Term Disability Insurance Carriers
  • Occupations That May Qualify
  • LTD Federal Court Case Summaries
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3EHrRKBKsok

Footer

Location

ORTIZ LAW FIRM
(888) 321-8131

316 S Baylen St
Ste 590
Pensacola, FL 32502
Monday - Thursday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Friday: 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Saturday - Sunday: Closed

Our Team

  • Nick Ortiz
  • Jessica Ortiz
  • Dawn Keller
  • Tory Nelson

Practice Areas

  • Long Term Disability Insurance and ERISA Disability Insurance Claims
  • Social Security Disability Claims
  • Personal Injury Claims
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Site Footer

©2020 Ortiz Law Firm, All Rights Reserved. Reproduced with Permission | Disclaimer | Privacy Policy

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!