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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 termination of benefits. This has been the focus of our practice at Seltzer & Associates for over four decades, and we greatly appreciate the trust our clients put in us. We thought it might be helpful to discuss some things that clients can do to ensure that they get the most value from their investment in legal services.

Choose the Right Legal Team

There was a time when hometown lawyers could handle just about any issue an individual might need assistance with. While there are many attorneys who help clients with a wide variety of issues today, many more lawyers focus their practice on specific areas so that they can delve deep into specialized issues and understand the nuanced points of law that can help their clients prevail.

One of those areas is disability insurance law. Insurance is a complex industry with a unique language all its own. Within that industry, disability insurance policies are substantially different from other insurance policies, and the issues that arise in an insurance dispute are nothing like those that come up with other types of insurance. Disability insurance is a specialized field, and resolving problems with the handling of disability insurance policies requires in-depth knowledge of that field and the legal issues involved.

An attorney with a good familiarity with contract dispute resolution or problems with other types of insurance claims, such as homeowner’s insurance claims, might be able to assist with a disability insurance claim. However, that attorney would be lacking the detailed knowledge and depth of experience of an attorney who is focused solely on disability insurance claims. That means that to get the most from your investment in legal services, you need to work with an attorney dedicated to disability insurance issues and nothing else.

Get a Comprehensive Exam and Continue with Regular Visits

Regardless of the type of disabling condition you are suffering from, you will need thorough professional documentation of that condition. Even if your condition is primarily a psychological condition, it may have physical effects. So you need to be examined by your medical doctor as well as mental health professionals. You need to keep records of everything that happens during the appointments, and you need to return for frequent follow-up care. You will be building a record of your treatment, showing how you are working toward recovery, but have not yet reached a point where you can practice your profession with competence.

Follow the Doctor’s Orders

Remember when we said insurance companies are looking for any excuse to deny your claim? Well, there’s a good chance that the fine print in your disability insurance policy will absolve the company from paying benefits if you take certain actions that make your condition worse. If you fail to limit activities in accordance with the doctor’s instructions, you might make it very difficult to receive benefits. If you are currently receiving benefits, those payments could be discontinued.

Even if your policy does not contain a clause limiting benefits based on your failure to follow the doctor’s orders, if the insurance company has evidence of you doing something you shouldn’t, they could use that as evidence to show that you are not truly disabled and therefore you’re not eligible for benefits. You can get the most from your policy by complying with instructions that are aimed at your recovery.

Share Complete Information with Your Attorney

Disabilities can be embarrassing in numerous ways, particularly when they involve substance abuse. While you may want to hide the full extent of your problems from colleagues or even your family, you need to be brutally honest with your attorney. Lawyers cannot provide the best representation if they are missing some of the vital information they need about your condition. Remember that communications with your lawyer will be kept confidential under the principle of attorney-client privilege. And it is also helpful to remember that your attorney has seen and heard far worse than what you have to share. They will not be shocked, and they will not judge you detrimentally for being honest. But withholding information can get you into trouble, so be forthright in your communications.

Keep Logs of Your Condition and the Impact on a Daily Basis

This particular task can make all the difference in the outcome of the claims process, so even though it is labor-intensive, it is well worth the effort. Try to get in the habit of keeping an ongoing journal of your condition and how it is affecting your ability to do tasks that are part of regular living, as well as those that have a connection to work. For instance, if you can’t stop worrying about something and that worry is preventing you from doing anything else, make note of it. Or if you have to lie down because of back pain or need to ice your hands in order to keep them from swelling, make note of when these episodes occur, what they prevent you from accomplishing, and when you are able to move on. Your notes can be handwritten, such as in a journal, or typed, or you can record yourself on your phone. Try to note what time the episode started and how long it lasts. 

The more details you can include about how symptoms manifest and how they impact your abilities, the more ammunition you give your attorney when your legal team is building arguments to show why you are entitled to maximum benefits under your policy.  

Additional Ways to Foster a Productive Relationship with Your Attorney

At Seltzer & Associates, we try to do as much as possible to reduce the paperwork and financial burden on our clients so that they can focus on obtaining their maximum level of recovery without worries about how they’re going to pay bills and handle expenses. But there are some tasks your attorney will need you to assist with, and when you are able to do that efficiently, your attorney will be able to obtain results quickly and more effectively.

Things you can do to get the most from your attorney include:

• Asking questions. This helps your legal advisor understand what’s important to you and ensures that you are both on the same page during the process of filing a claim or appealing a denial
• Maintaining complete records. If you can keep your information together and organized, that will ensure that nothing is overlooked that could support your claim for maximum benefits
• Responding promptly to communications. If your attorney asks a question or requests information, the sooner you respond, the sooner your attorney can put the information to work on your claim.

Learn More About the Reasons an Investment in Legal Representation May Be the Best Decision You’ve Ever Made

We’ve just told you some steps that can help you help your attorney to obtain full benefits under your disability policy without unnecessary delays. But it’s also important for you to understand the value that your attorney can provide in your specific situation.

At Seltzer & Associates, we know that logically it seems like it should be a simple process to receive insurance benefits under the disability policy you’ve been paying for. Unfortunately, however, insurance claims have evolved into a legal process that can be as complex as a lawsuit. But the benefits you receive can provide an essential lifeline during a difficult time in your life, so it is worth fighting to get every dime you deserve.

Contact us online or call us at 888-699-4222 today to schedule a free consultation to learn the ways Seltzer & Associates can assist with your disability insurance claim.