Many physicians or other medical professionals do not know, or do not want to admit, they may be suffering from a disability. Doctors are programmed from the beginning to push pain and other distractions aside to focus on their patients and their needs. But, if your medical condition or limitations have begun to impact the types of procedures you can perform, the hours you can work, or your ability to perform certain aspects of your job, it might be time to think about filing a claim for long-term disability (LTD) benefits. You purchased LTD coverage for this very reason—to protect you and your family if your medical condition impacted your ability to earn income.
Know That Many Long-Term Disability Claims Are Initially Denied But Can Be Successfully Appealed
It is important to know, however, that many claims for LTD benefits, particularly those filed by doctors or other medical professionals, are initially denied, even if they are meritorious. LTD insurance companies bank on the fact that many people will not successfully appeal their initial denial of the claim. This is because the appeal is a complicated, tedious process, with many chances to take a misstep. The best thing you can to do to protect your rights and your LTD claim is to bring an experienced LTD insurance attorney, like our attorneys at Taylor, Warren, Weidner & Hancock, on board from the beginning to help you with the process.
Some Things to Consider Before Filing a Claim or Appeal
The most important thing you can do before filing a LTD claim is to obtain a copy of your LTD policy, along with the Summary Plan Description, and review it carefully so that you understand your policy's definition of disability, the coverages you have, and any exclusions and/or limitations that might apply. The next step will be to work closely with your doctors to ensure your medical records contain the necessary language and symptoms to prove your disability. This is a part of the process where an experienced LTD attorney can really help, i.e., in the gathering of necessary evidence to support your LTD claim. In addition to these critical first steps, here are some answers to common questions we have received in our decades helping physicians and other medical professionals obtain the LTD benefits they deserve.