An anesthesiologist is listed as the highest paying position in America according to a CNBC report on top-paying jobs in America. As an anesthesiologist, you have the critical role of helping patients before and after surgery. This specialized skill set is the reason that the average compensation is $265,990. It is also the reason that insurance companies try to deny disability claims for an anesthesiologist.
In this article, we will explore the following:
- Why it’s so difficult to file a Long Term Disability claim as an anesthesiologist;
- Tips for a winning claim; and
- How you can obtain a professional evaluation of your disability insurance policy.
The Challenges of Getting A Long Term Disability Claim Approved as an Anesthesiologist
As an anesthesiologist, you pay high premiums to insurance companies to cover your expenses if you become disabled. Although you pay these premiums, the insurance company will make it very difficult to get your claim approved.
Why? Because the insurance company is looking at the case from a financial standpoint. They look at how much money it will cost them to provide an anesthesiologist with benefits throughout the illness or disability. The longer it could potentially take the anesthesiologist to get back to work, the more scrutiny the anesthesiologist will face when they are in the claims process.
Tips for Getting A Claim Approved
Tip #1: Gather Strong Medical Evidence
Unlike family doctors, anesthesiologists are usually unfamiliar with the medical paperwork needed to file for long-term disability. Collect all the medical evidence from all of your doctors that are treating your disability. Be sure that your doctors are noting your pain levels on your chart, this is not always common practice, but you will need this for your claim.
Anesthesiologists monitor several patients at once, keeping them on their feet for hours at a time, and usually spend a good amount of time working out each week to stay healthy. During the recovery period from their disability, this may not be an option. The excessive amount of rest needed to recover can be prolonged and cause depression. When seeking treatment for depression, be sure to include those medical records as well.
Tip #2: Anticipate Surveillance
A large claim, like that of an anesthesiologist, will be under surveillance. Surveillance is completely legal. During the surveillance period, an investigator will stake out the claimant’s house, talk to nearby neighbors about daily activities, and try to use that information against the claimant in court. This is why it is imperative to not rush back into exercise routines or anything else that is very strenuous on the body during the claim period.
Tip #3: Stay Off Social Media
There is a high likelihood that social media accounts will be monitored. As an anesthesiologist, your work schedule probably does not allow for much time on social media. However, when you are at home with nothing to do but rest, you may be tempted to start an account. We suggest staying off social media entirely during the claim period. The insurance investigator will try to use social media accounts to deny your claim.
Tip #4 Do Not Try to Go Back to Work Too Fast
The amount of time spent recovering from a disability can be very dull and feel unproductive to an anesthesiologist. The change from a very active schedule to weeks and months of rest can feel like a prison sentence. Anesthesiologists must resist the urge to go back to work too early. When an anesthesiologist pushes themselves back into work before their body is ready physically and mentally, they are in danger of making a mistake that could cause more injury to their patients and land them in court.
Request a Free Policy Evaluation
If you are considering purchasing a disability insurance policy or have recently purchased a policy, we will help you understand what you are entitled to and whether there are deficiencies in your coverage that could lead to a denied claim. It is easy for individual policyholders who are not trained to read insurance policies to misread or misunderstand the disability policy. As part of our evaluation, we will explain what everything means to you in your situation.
Some of the aspects of your policy we will review include:
- Total versus residual disability;
- Own occupation versus any gainful occupation;
- Mental and nervous disability benefit limitations; and
- Self-reported conditions benefit limitations.
Fill out the form below to submit your request, and please allow 5 business days to receive your free Policy Evaluation Report.
Conclusion
Anesthesiologists will find it challenging to get a long-term disability claim approved due to the substantial cost. The insurance company will try to find any reason to deny the claim. By providing strong medical evidence, keeping a low profile, and not rushing back to work too soon, an Anesthesiologist can create a solid case for disability.
Using an experienced disability attorney will help you protect yourself against insurance investigators. The Ortiz Law Firm is based in Florida but represents claimants across the country. Receive a free consultation by calling (888) 321-8131 with no obligation. We can help you evaluate your policy to determine if you will be able to access long-term disability benefits and how to move forward with the process.