You’ve known that you have long-term disability coverage through your employer for quite some time. However, you never anticipated needing it until now. Whether you were in an accident, diagnosed with a long-term or terminal illness, or something else, you have the right to the long-term disability benefits you have paid for all these years through your employer. Unfortunately, insurance carriers deny far too many legitimate claims, making their profits the priority. If you are filing a disability insurance claim, seek the help of a skilled Chicago disability insurance attorney. They have the knowledge and resources to help you file your claim and appeal it if necessary.Â
Disability policyholders file claims for many different health reasons, but they all cause the claimant to be unable to perform their job as they normally would. The most common reasons for filing a disability claim include:
Employer-provided group long-term disability policies are generally governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA). This federal law was designed to protect the assets of millions of Americans, ensuring that when they retire, the money placed in retirement plans while they were working will still be there.Â
In addition, ERISA governs the long-term disability rules and other insurance coverages that most Americans have through their employer. The bad news is that the courts have typically interpreted ERISA in ways that allow rules that benefit insurance companies over employees. ERISA also has strict and complex procedural rules that you must adhere to in order to preserve your right to appeal a denial.Â
The good news is that a well-versed Chicago disability insurance lawyer from Bartolic Law will stand by your side during your appeal and even your initial claim. They understand the complicated ERISA rules and how insurance companies work to deny claims.Â
While you have the right to have your case heard before the court, you must exhaust your other options to get your claim approved. Usually, this means filing an appeal if your claim was denied. If your appeal is also denied, an experienced Chicago disability insurance attorney can help you with the next steps of pursuing a legal remedy.Â
Keep in mind that the appeals process is complicated and involves deadlines. Even still, your insurer and the law require strict adherence to the rules for appeal. If you don’t adhere to them, you could lose your appeal on a simple technical matter. There are no exceptions to the filing deadline. By hiring a Chicago disability insurance lawyer, you can ensure that:
You don’t have to file your claim or your appeal on your own. Instead, you can reach out to the Chicago disability insurance lawyers at Bartolic Law and let them take the lead in your claim. Not only will this increase the chances of an approved claim, but it can also give you the time and space you need to focus on your health. To receive a no-obligation ERISA disability consultation or to learn more about the services we can provide, contact our office today.Â