Long-Term Disability Lawyer Serving Annapolis, MD
When you develop a debilitating medical condition that impairs your ability to work, you must consider filing for long-term disability (LTD) benefits. Moreover, if you file for these benefits but receive a denial of your claim, you have the right to appeal.
Regardless of which stage you are in, it is an often stressful process. You must deal with your insurance company while also managing your condition. For many, this is overwhelming. However, this is not something you must do alone.
A long-term disability lawyer serving Annapolis, MD from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick is ready to assist you wherever you are in the process. We have the experience necessary to help fight for your benefits.
We believe that you should not have to worry about receiving your benefits and instead should focus on your health. Call CCK today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation with a member of our team.
Contacting a Long-Term Disability Lawyer is Beneficial for Your Claim
Some claimants decide to handle their long-term disability claims on their own. While this is possible, it is not always the best decision. Oftentimes, these claims (and appeals) are complex. It is easy to make a mistake, and a mistake may result in a denial of benefits.
When you cannot work, these benefits are vital to protecting a percentage of your income. If you receive a denial, it can be disheartening. Thus, contacting a long-term disability attorney is beneficial.
A long-term disability insurance attorney understands the difficulties in obtaining LTD benefits. CCK has over three decades of collective experience. We can help you at any stage in the process. For example, long-term disability insurance policies are often difficult to understand. Failing to understand your policy can result in simple yet detrimental mistakes. Your policy includes a lot of valuable information, such as the maximum benefit period, the waiting period, how to appeal, specific filing deadlines, and more.
Your policy contains a definition of disability that you must prove your condition meets if you wish to obtain approval from your insurer. We will help you understand what your policy’s definition entails and help you determine and gather the best evidence to prove your disability.
Moreover, if you receive your benefits through your employer, then ERISA governs your policy. ERISA is a federal law, and it comes with its own strict deadlines and regulations. It is important to have an ERISA attorney help you navigate this complex law. CCK is well-versed in ERISA and can assist in ensuring your claim or appeal is compliant.
CCK Can Gather the Best Evidence to Bolster Your Annapolis Claim
Medical records are claimants’ primary evidence when filing a claim. However, some claimants may need to submit additional evidence to the insurance company. This supplemental evidence can bolster your claim or appeal and demonstrate how your condition disables you per the definition of disability within your policy. CCK utilizes a variety of such evidence, including:
- Specialized reports from treating physicians: Your medical records do not always tell the whole story about your condition. However, your treating physicians have unique insights on how your condition specifically impairs you. They can draft a specialized report that highlights aspects of your condition that your medical records do not, thereby strengthening your claim.
- Witness statements from family, friends, and coworkers: Others often see how your condition impairs you. Official witness statements from these personal acquaintances can reinforce your claim. Statements written by family members and close friends can show how your condition affects you at home. Likewise, coworkers can attest to how your condition prevents you from working.
- Outside experts’ opinions: Additional evaluations are sometimes necessary when filing for LTD benefits. CCK works with several outside experts who can provide their objective opinions on your condition. These experts can provide functional capacity tests, neuropsychological assessments, and vocational evaluations.
We Can Alleviate the Stress of Dealing with the Insurance Company
Insurance companies should handle every claim fairly. However, this does not always happen. In short, if the insurance company can find a reason to not pay claimants, they will. As such, insurers routinely ask for more information or evidence, and they may hire an investigator to surveil claimants. They may also request that claimants attend an “independent medical exam” that utilizes doctors paid by the insurance company. This can be stressful.
The disability rate in Annapolis, MD between 2016 and 2020 was 7.9 percent. If you live in Annapolis, MD and have a disabling condition, CCK can help. We can alleviate the stress of dealing with your insurer when you file a claim or appeal a denial. We can act as a point of contact between you and them – all correspondence must pass through us first.
Additionally, we can submit all evidence on your behalf. There are strict filing deadlines that when missed can lead to a loss of benefits. We will ensure that all documentation and evidence are submitted on time. If necessary, we can fight for your benefits in court.
Call Us Today for a Free Consultation
If you are suffering from a debilitating medical condition that is impacting your ability to work, you must consider filing for long-term disability benefits. This is not something you must do on your own. A long-term disability lawyer serving Annapolis, Maryland from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick is ready to assist you.
Call CCK today at 800-544-9144 for a free consultation with a member of our team. We will evaluate your case and see if we can help.
Annapolis Blog Posts
-
Own Occupation vs. Any Occupation Long-Term Disability Insurance PoliciesYour long-term disability (LTD) insurance policy will specify what definition of disability you need to meet in order to receive benefits. Many definitions of disability contain language specifying what occupation(s) you must be disabled from in order to meet the definition of disability. LTD policies commonly refer to these definitions as own occupation and any […]
-
Long-Term Disability (LTD) After Age 65If you become disabled after age 65, but were not planning on retiring any time soon, you may be worried about your ability to receive long-term disability (LTD) benefits and protect some of your income. Although you can usually still receive long-term disability benefits if you become disabled after age 65, your age will likely […]
-
What Happens to Long-Term Disability (LTD) Benefits If I Lose My Job?Long-term disability (LTD) benefits are important for those who have a medical condition that prevents them from working. These benefits protect a percentage of a person’s income, usually between 60 and 80 percent of their pre-disability earnings. Yet what happens if they lose their job while receiving benefits? Generally, when you lose your job, it […]