When many people hear the word “disability,” they tend to think of someone with a particular condition that fits their preconceived notion of what it means to be disabled. They may picture a wheelchair or imagine a disability that has obvious physical signs, such as an amputated limb. But there are a wide array of physiological conditions that can impair your ability to function to such an extent that you qualify for disability benefits under the terms of a disability insurance policy. (This is not even counting psychological and psychiatric conditions, which we will address next month.) In this post, […]

When you’ve been paying premiums on a disability insurance policy and the day comes when you finally need to use that policy, it seems only fair that the process of filing a claim should be fairly simple. After all, you have a contractual arrangement with the insurance company that calls for them to provide benefits when you’re unable to work due to a disability. However, professionals often find that when they file a claim, the insurance company finds reasons to deny benefits or delay the evaluation process. Often, they will insist on the need for an IME, which stands for […]

When you’re unable to work due to a physical or mental disability, it can be extremely challenging to manage the process of filing a comprehensive claim for your disability insurance benefits. Insurance companies look for any excuse to deny claims, and they demand a level of documentation that can be nearly impossible to discern unless you’re extremely familiar with the claims process for disability insurance. This is why so many people choose to work with a disability insurance lawyer when filing a claim for benefits under their disability insurance policies or when they need to appeal a claim denial or […]

While filing a successful claim for long-term disability insurance benefits is almost always a challenge, it is particularly difficult when the disability affects mental or emotional health rather than physical health. Documentation, which is so crucial in disability claims, can be more difficult to obtain and more frequently subjected to challenge by insurance companies. Proving your limitations in a disability claim involving mental health impairments requires a concerted effort and an understanding of the evidence and arguments that insurance claims evaluators find the most persuasive. In our decades of experience helping professionals obtain disability benefits for mental health disabilities, we’ve […]

When you’ve paid an insurance company for a long-term disability policy and a time arrives when you need to use the policy you’ve paid for, it is extremely frustrating when the insurer denies your claim. Unfortunately, it’s not at all uncommon. Insurance companies make money by paying out as little as possible, so they rarely miss a chance to say “no.” And they’ve become quite adept at presenting legal arguments to suggest that you have no hope of succeeding if you file an appeal. But the fact is that it often takes legal action to get the benefits you are […]

While all insurance policies are complex, those that are designed to provide assistance when you are unable to work due to a disability seem to be among the most complicated. One reason these policies are often so hard to employ is that they are governed by different laws depending on the specific type of disability insurance policy you are trying to enforce. The federal ERISA laws establish obligations that apply to certain types of disability insurance but not all policies. If you are reviewing your disability insurance coverage, need to file a claim, or want to appeal a denial or […]

As a physician, psychologist, dentist, chiropractor or other healthcare professional, you have dedicated your life to helping others recover their physical and mental abilities. You have invested years of intense effort and significant financial resources to gain the education and experience to be able to provide much-needed services to the community. You may be carrying debt from education and certainly have regular financial obligations associated with your professional practice as well as your personal life. So, what happens when it is you, rather than one of your patients, who suffers from a condition that makes it impossible to work? Many […]

A recent episode of The Dental Amigos podcast featured attorney Mark Seltzer sharing critical insights about disability insurance claims, revealing the complex challenges dentists face when filing for benefits. Seltzer, who has spent over 40 years representing healthcare professionals in disability cases, warned that many dentists are dangerously unprepared for the claims process. Listen to the full podcast below:  

When you file a claim with your car insurance company or health insurance provider, the process is pretty straightforward, and usually, you don’t need legal assistance to get the benefits you’re entitled to receive under your policy. Long-term disability insurance is different. The benefits are much more substantial, and insurance companies often deny or undervalue claims. At a time when you are unable to work and most in need of resources to rebuild your life, insurance companies delay or deny your benefits. At Seltzer & Associates, we’ve seen this problem first-hand over and over through the years. We have dedicated […]

Professionals often need so many different types of insurance that it can be challenging to understand just what types of coverage you have and where you may be vulnerable to gaps in coverage. Disability insurance is one of those areas. The Social Security Administration provides disability insurance to individuals who pay tax under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA), but professionals often elect to purchase private individual disability insurance policies or take advantage of group disability insurance offered through an employer. It is important to understand the differences between private disability insurance coverage and SSA disability programs to determine your […]