It may take months to appeal a Liberty Mutual disability or other long-term disability decision, with exact times depending on the level of appeal needed.

What Is Long-Term Disability Insurance?

Disability benefits provide a safety net for people who become disabled or sick, or cannot work due to other medical reasons. Long-term disability insurance is specific type of coverage that supplements a portion of a worker’s income for a long period of time after they have been seriously injured or ill.

Unlike workman’s compensation, disability insurance provides benefits even if an injury didn’t happen at work. For example, if an employee broke their leg at work, they would likely receive workman’s compensation. However, if they broke their leg in a car accident and were unable to work while healing, they could be covered under a disability insurance policy.

Various conditions are also eligible for coverage under most policies. Eligible conditions, according to insure.com, may include musculoskeletal or connective tissue disorders, cancer, injuries, cardiovascular or circulatory problems, mental disorders, nervous system disorders, pregnancy, and more.

As the name suggests, this insurance covers disabilities which are longer term. Short-term illnesses or injuries would instead be covered by short term disability insurance with long-term disability coverage kicking in after short term has run out.

These disability policies will generally pay out a percentage of the insured person’s salary during the period of time during which they cannot work. Usually, long term disability insurance will cover between 50 percent and 70 percent of a worker’s income. These benefits may kick in anywhere from 10 to 53 weeks after the disabling event. However, the coverage and time periods will vary depending on the insurance provider and plan chosen. According to thebalance.com, better benefits usually mean pricier premiums.

In many situations, an employer will provide short term and long term disability benefits to their employees. However, some employees may find the coverage of these benefits to be subpar and may take out an additional, supplemental disability policy. This can be done through private insurance providers such as Liberty Mutual, Northwestern Mutual, Unum, and more.

Most disability insurance companies will require a medical exam before they approve coverage. This involves getting an applicant’s height, weight, pulse, blood pressure, as well as blood and urine samples. A technician will also get an applicant’s medical history.

Unfortunately, there are some unique situations which may result in quick application denials, according to Policy Genius.

Someone with pending medical procedures, unresolved treatment, an unknown medical condition, or underlying issues may not be able to get disability insurance. However, something as simple as having vertigo or fatigue can also be a reason for denial.

If a consumer is able to secure long term disability insurance through their employer or a third party, they may feel protected in case of a significant injury or illness. However, the claim process for disability coverage may be long, tedious, and uncertain.

How Do I File a Disability Claim?

If a person is injured or becomes ill, they may be able to file a disability claim under their long term disability policy.

These claims will usually include information about the claimant’s job, diagnosis, and any documentation about these. Documentation could include statements from employers, doctors, occupational specialists, or others.

After they file a disability claim, claimants will usually have to wait out their “elimination period.” All policies have this waiting period between when a disability starts and when benefits can begin. The length of an elimination period will vary. Some periods are between 30 and 90 days while others are between 180 and 365.

Even with a long elimination period, claimants may want to file a claim with their insurance company immediately after becoming disabled. This will allow for processing time and any additional steps required before benefits are dispersed.

Why Do Long-Term Disability Insurance Claims Get Denied?

Unfortunately, long-term disability claims may not always be approved. There can be a variety of reasons an insurance provider may deny a claim, including:

• Insufficient medical evidence: If a claim is not supported by an ongoing medical treatment plan, medical records, a doctor’s statement, and other evidence, it is likely to be denied.
• Failure to meet the definition of “disability”: A caveat of disability insurance is that each policy may have a slightly different definition of “disability.” Failure to meet these requirements may result in a claim being denied.
• Video surveillance: Insurance companies may have investigators take video footage of claimants to make sure that their disability actually exists. If insurance investigators catch a worker doing something strenuous, they may use that footage to deny a claim.
• Missed deadlines: Failure to submit documentation or appeal forms on time can result in an automatic denial of a claim.

Some of these denial reasons may be quickly remedied with additional documentation provided in an appeal. However, other denials may require more intensive appeals.

What Happens if My Disability Application Is Denied?

Unfortunately, many first-time disability applications are denied. Although a disability application denial may be a stressful event, it is only the first step in the process of pursuing disability benefits and payments.

Claimants whose initial long term disability insurance applications are denied may be able to file at least one appeal. Most first-time disability applications are denied. This happens with all types of policies, including Liberty Mutual disability policies.

How Do I File an Appeal for Liberty Mutual Disability?

If your Liberty Mutual disability or another disability claim was denied, you may be able to pursue an appeal.

The first step in launching an appeal is obtaining a copy of your disability benefits policy. Reviewing this policy may help to clarify why your application was denied and may aid you in filing your appeal. Reviewing the denial letter sent to you by your insurer may also aid you in your appeal. The denial letter should include reasons why your claim was denied, as well as important dates and deadlines for filing an appeal.

How Long Does It Take to Get an Appeal for Liberty Mutual Disability?

If a worker’s claim for Liberty Mutual disability or other disability benefits is denied, they may be able to appeal the decision.

The first steps of an appeal should be to get a copy of the policy, study the denial letter, and consider recruiting a qualified lawyer to help appeal the long-term disability decision. All of these steps can help workers figure out a game plan for appeal.

Next, workers may want to support their case with extra documentation. This means getting medical records, requesting reference letters or expert testimony, asking doctors for written opinions, and even getting further tests done if they would support the appeal.

These steps can take anywhere from weeks to months, but generally should be completed within the 180-day administrative appeal period. If an appeal takes longer than this amount of time, workers may be automatically denied and may not even be able to take legal action against the insurer because they did not exhaust all administrative options.

Can an Attorney Help with the Disability Appeals Process?

As the disability appeals process may be long and confusing, hiring a qualified attorney to help you with your case may make it more likely for you to receive disability benefits. A qualified disability benefits attorney will be able to help you assemble the documentation you will need for your appeal, as well as ensuring that you meet important deadlines. Additionally, simply having an attorney to represent you may highlight the seriousness of your case.

It is important to ensure that you have as much favorable evidence as possible to support your case. This evidence may include letters from doctors detailing your disability, medical testing and records, and testimony from family or friends. It is especially important for this testimony to include details on your inability to adequately perform the tasks of your job due to your disability.

However, these disability benefits appeals may take a long time. Each year, almost 6 percent of American workers will experience injuries or illness that qualifies them for short-term disability, leading to a backlog in disability cases and appeals. Having a qualified attorney on your side to assist you with your case may make the process smoother and faster.

If your appeal is also denied, you may be allowed to file a second appeal. If this appeal is also denied, you may be able to file a lawsuit in federal court against your insurer.

Most disability insurance companies require policyholders to exhaust all of their appeals before filing a lawsuit. However, several insurance companies have faced legal action over denying disability claims. Some plaintiffs claim that their claims were denied without being properly reviewed while others argue that insurance companies have no justification for denying their claims.

A long term disability denial lawsuit could help plaintiffs recover the benefits they believe they are owed under their policy terms in addition to added damages, interest, and other forms of compensation.

If your application for Liberty Mutual Disability or another disability insurance company was denied, you may be able to hire an experienced attorney to help you file an appeal. Even if you do not need to file a lawsuit against your disability insurance company, a qualified attorney may be able to help you assemble the documentation necessary for your case and ensure that your appeals are filed correctly and on time.

These qualified legal experts are experienced in the insurance appeals field and may know the best ways to get an appeal approved. An attorney may also help take some of the stress off of you while you’re struggling with a disability by communicating with an insurance company in your stead.

Get Help With Your Long Term Disability Insurance Appeal

If an insurance company denied your long-term disability insurance claim within the past 180 days, a knowledgeable insurance attorney can help you appeal.

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