In addition to the additional burden of worrying about prolonged exposure to the virus and what that means for them and their families, many medical professionals are facing COVID-19 disability claim denials.

Disability Insurance Claims Being Rejected for COVID-19 Medical Professionals If you are a doctor or other medical professional with a health-compromising condition that could result in long-term disability or death if you are exposed to patients with COVID-19, be forewarned: insurance companies are beginning to challenge claims filed by medical professionals seeking disability benefits as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.  Physician Disability and COVID-19 Many physicians who have underlying physical and mental health conditions cannot safely work in an environment where close contact with patients puts them at risk for developing complications from the Coronavirus. Insurance companies are closely […]

As an attorney, dedicated to representing disabled professionals with individual disability insurance (IDI) and long-term disability (LTD) insurance matters, I am often in the unenviable position of informing clients of the deficiencies in their coverage. As an attorney, dedicated to representing disabled professionals with individual disability insurance (IDI) and long-term disability (LTD) insurance matters, I am often in the unenviable position of informing clients of the deficiencies in their coverage. Such was the case during a recent consultation with a civil litigation attorney who was forced to cease practicing due to a neurological disorder affecting his executive and cognitive function. […]

Unum, one of the largest disability insurance companies in the United States, recently released their list of the top causes of disability in 2017 for claims filed with its company. According to Unum, the leading causes of long-term disability claims in 2017 were cancer, back disorders, injury, cardiovascular, and joint disorders. Injury, joint disorders, and cancer, along with pregnancy and digestive system, were also the leading causes of short-term disability claims in 2017. Cancer One in two men and one in three women in the United States are at risk of developing cancer in their lifetime. The most common types […]

As I have previously explained, in December 2016 the United States Department of Labor (“DOL”) released a new rule amending 29 C.F.R. §2560.503-1, the federal regulations for claims procedures of ERISA-governed disability insurance plans. These rules will generally affect all group long-term disability plans that are obtained through an employer. The new rules were scheduled to go in effect in January 1, 2018, but as I discussed this past January, the effective date was delayed to April 1, 2018. Now that the new rules have arrived, I am re-upping my previous explanation highlighting the new rules. —– Improvement to Basic […]

For Immediate Release PHILADELPHIA, March 8, 2018 – Mark F. Seltzer was named an Honorary Member of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM). As the Founding Partner of Seltzer & Associates, Mr. Seltzer has represented sick and injured professionals in their private disability claims for over the past twenty years, specifically focusing on doctors suffering from addiction. Through this representation, he has worked with addiction medicine doctors, and spoken and presented at various conferences and programs, including ASAM’s annual meetings. Therefore, the ASAM Board of Directors is honoring Mr. Seltzer in recognition of his “dedication, service and contributions” to […]

As I wrote about last January, in December 2016 the U.S. Department of Labor (“DOL”) released its Final Rule amending the Claims Procedure regulating claim handling for ERISA governed disability benefits. In the Final Rule, ERISA governed plans were required to implement a number of changes to their claims handling procedures effective January 1, 2018. However, on October 12, 2017, pursuant to the Executive Order Enforcing the Regulatory Reform Agenda, the DOL sought comment on a proposed 90-day delay of the January 1, 2018 applicability date. According to the DOL, this delay was in response to the concern of insurance […]

While the majority of disability insurance cases our firm handles are for physicians and medical professionals that are disabled as a result of addiction, there seems to be a trend of an increasing number of doctors that are suffering from the effects of “burnout” and/or have become dissatisfied professionally. In fact, this is a very hot topic among the various members of the Federation of State Physician Health Programs. Today’s practice of medicine is totally different and has substantially changed when compared to that of even 10 or 20 years ago. Many physicians explain and complain that they are now […]

Individual Disability Policies, Long Term Disability Plans, and Social Security all define disability differently; make sure you understand the difference. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of every five adults in the United States has a disability. As of 2015, that was 53 million people. What happens when you become disabled? For many people, suffering a disabling injury or sickness means they must stop working. Or, for those fortunate to be able to continue working, it often means changing what they do or reducing the amount of time they work. Unfortunately, this often causes financial […]