Long-Term Disability (LTD) Attorney Serving Providence, RI
If you develop a medical condition that negatively impacts your ability to work and need to file a long-term disability (LTD) claim, the process can be overwhelming and nerve-racking. It can be even more stressful if the insurance company denies your claim or later terminates your long-term disability benefits. Whether you need to file an initial claim or appeal a denial of benefits, you do not need to handle it on your own.
A long-term disability attorney serving Providence, RI from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick LTD is here to navigate the process with you. Call today for a free consultation with a member of our team: 844-549-4500.
Why Should You Contact an Attorney Regarding Your LTD Claim?
Many claimants handle their long-term disability claim on their own, but there are benefits to having an attorney involved. Unfortunately, while insurance companies are supposed to act solely in the interest of claimants, they often act in their own self-interest. The attorneys at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick have 33 years of collective experience dealing with insurance companies and know how they operate. Some common types of long-term disabilities that we have encountered throughout our practice include:
- Guillain Barre Syndrome
- Osteoarthritis
- Hypertension
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Anxiety
We work to ensure that the insurance company is handling your claim properly and fairly. We also know the kind of evidence insurance companies are looking for and will make sure it is submitted with your initial claim or on timely appeal. This is especially important in ERISA-governed LTD claims because often the administrative appeal is your last opportunity to get evidence into the record.
Additionally, there are often deadlines that apply to filing an initial long-term disability claim or appealing a denial of benefits. If you miss those deadlines, you could lose your rights to your LTD benefits. A long-term disability attorney from Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick will identify and track those deadlines to ensure they are met while you focus on your health and well-being.
Our Attorneys Will Demonstrate That You Are Entitled to LTD Benefits
In order to receive long-term disability benefits, you must demonstrate that you meet your policy’s definition of disability. Our attorneys will analyze your long-term disability policy and other plan-governing documents to determine what standard you need to meet in order to receive benefits and what evidence is necessary to demonstrate that you meet that standard.
Although medical records are often the primary source of evidence, sometimes medical records alone are not enough. Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick utilizes a wide variety of evidence to demonstrate that our clients are entitled to LTD benefits. Additional types of evidence we help gather may include:
- Reports From Treating Physicians: Sometimes your medical records do not fully document your physician’s observations of your symptoms or your reports to your physician about how your symptoms impact your day-to-day functioning. We obtain reports from treating physicians, explaining your symptoms in more detail and why they prevent you from working.
- Statements From Your Family, Friends, or Coworkers: Often, other people have witnessed how your condition impacts you in your day-to-day life and negatively affects your ability to work. Suppose you have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In that case, we obtain statements from your family, friends, and coworkers, explaining these observations to help you get a long-term disability for PTSD.
- Evaluations From Outside Experts: Sometimes, even with all of the above, additional evidence is needed to demonstrate that you meet the definition of disability required by your policy. Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick works with experts who can perform additional evaluations to help demonstrate that you are entitled to benefits under your LTD policy. These include functional capacity evaluations, neuropsychological evaluations, and vocational evaluations. Furthermore, we might also use additional vocational evidence—like your education and work history—to paint a better picture of how your condition impacted your career.
The Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick Legal Team Takes the Burden of Dealing with the Insurance Company Off of You
Although the insurance company should neutrally evaluate your claim for long-term disability benefits, they are often motivated by their own financial interests and their desire to avoid paying claims where possible. Not only does this result in wrongful claim denials, but it can result in the insurance company making repeated requests for additional information from both you and your doctors even while you are on claim after LTD benefits have been approved. We understand that many of our clients already experience chronic pain when they decide to pursue benefits. You do not need this added stress when you should be focusing on your health. Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick Providence attorneys take the burden of dealing with the insurance company off your shoulders.
If you need to file an initial long-term disability claim, we are equipped to handle the completion of all claim forms and gather all necessary evidence in order to send a comprehensive package to the insurance company. Similarly, if you need to file an appeal of a denial of benefits, we obtain and analyze the insurance company’s claim file, gather medical evidence, and write an in-depth appeal, explaining why you are entitled to LTD benefits.
If your claim is approved and you are receiving monthly long-term disability benefits, we handle all communications with the insurance company for you and respond to their information requests. If the insurance company needs information from your doctor, we facilitate that request and make it as easy for your doctor as possible, and as worry-free as possible for you.
For a Free Consultation on Your Long-Term Disability Case, Call Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick
If you suffer from a medical condition that prevents you from working, you should be focused on your health and taking care of yourself. If you need to file an long-term disability claim, or appeal a denial of your long-term disability benefits, we can take that burden away. The long-term disability attorneys at Chisholm Chisholm & Kilpatrick in Providence, Rhode Island can help you prove that you are disabled under the terms of your LTD policy and help you obtain the LTD benefits to which you are rightfully entitled. If the insurance company wrongfully denies your appeal, we are prepared to fight for your long-term disability benefits in court. Call 844-549-4500 today for a free consultation.
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