If the time comes when you need to collect your disability insurance benefits, there’s no time to waste fighting with reluctant insurance companies. Let a Palmdale disability attorney speed up the process.
While disability insurance is meant to help protect you from significant financial loss when you’re unable to work, sometimes an insurer, for whatever reason, will decide against paying on your claim.
Although there’s often no way to avoid a swift claim denial at first, you can increase your likelihood of having that initial decision overturned with the right attorney by your side.
To see what your life might be like with the compensation you deserve, contact a Palmdale disability lawyer at Haffner Law today.
Differences Between Short- and Long-Term Disability
Both short- and long-term disability insurance policies are typically purchased on the open market. It has become common for many companies to pay premiums, either partial or in full, on behalf of their employees.
Still, a clear distinction must be made between two main types of private coverage, as Palmdale disability claimants typically file for them under different circumstances:
- Short-Term Disability (STD) – This coverageis meant to address any temporary setbacks, including injury and often pregnancy, which you don’t expect to keep you out of commission for longer than a year. In many cases, you may be eligible to receive benefits directly >from your employer<, but this won’t always be the case.
- Long-term disability (LTD) – LTD is typically filed for when you expect your disability to last longer than a year. Often, LTD benefits are meant to provide income for those with a permanent disability, such as cognitive decline or a lost limb. For permanent disability claimants, however, it is important to note that, the older you get, the during which you’ll be entitled to collect benefits.
On a final note, two important characteristics that all privately purchased disability policies must feature are continuous coverage (unless premiums aren’t paid) and guaranteed renewability (although premiums may increase).
Why Your Palmdale Disability Claim Might Be Denied
Unfortunately, insurers can find almost any reason to deny your claim, regardless of its merit and severity. Common justifications for claim denials include the following:
- Errors made in filling out your disability claim form
- Discrepancies between sources of medical history
- Misunderstandings over the extent of your disability
It’s also important to mention that, while LTD policies are initially meant to provide benefits for as long as you cannot perform your current job, they often only allow those who cannot perform any job to continue to receive benefits past a certain cutoff point.
Usually, the cutoff point after which your ability to work will need to be reevaluated is two years.
What Can Help You Prove Your Palmdale Disability Case
Although some short- and long-term disabilities, such as chronic pain and mental health issues, can be hard to prove to an insurer, you can help your case by obtaining a proper diagnosis from a medical professional.
You will want to provide the clearest evidence possible to your insurance company to prove the severity of your condition, which may require seeking multiple opinions. An experienced disability lawyer in Palmdale can not only help you find qualified physicians in this process, but assist you with arguing the merits of your case.
Partner with a Palmdale Disability Attorney
Whether you’re suffering from a short- or long-term disability, our attorneys understand how painful it feels to not get the benefits you desperately need. Fortunately, there’s no need to handle greedy insurance companies all by yourself.
Contact a Palmdale disability lawyer at Haffner Law today for a free, no-obligation case consultation. Call us at 1-844-HAFFNER (423-3637) or fill out the form below to speak with one of our attorneys.
