People who become seriously injured or temporarily disabled and are unable to work may be eligible to receive partial wage reimbursement through a long term disability insurance policy.

However, many first time disability insurance applicants are denied benefits. Learning more about the disability claims process at insurance companies such as Unum may make it more likely for victims to receive their owed disability benefits and compensation.

Accessing rightful disability insurance may become an even more pressing issue for many Americans in the coming months and years as the long-term effects of COVID-19 become more clear.

Even for people who survive their bout with the virus, there may be a slew of health complications related to the virus that linger for a long time thereafter, like lung issues, organ damage, blood clotting, fatigue, “brain fog,” and more.

What does Unum do?

Unum is an insurance company offering short term, long term, and individual disability insurance plans. The insurance policies offered through the plan may provide up to 60% of an applicant’s salary or wages while they are unable to work.

According to Unum’s website, the company’s insurance provides coverage for approximately 36 million people around the world and pays out nearly $7 billion in benefits every year. In addition to offering short term and long term disability insurance, the company also offers life insurance, accident insurance, insurance for critical illness, and dental and vision benefits.

How does Unum long term disability work?

Unum disability insurance works by providing employees who are unable to work for a period of time due to a covered injury or illness with a portion of their salary. While short term disability insurance generally covers workers for between three to six months, long term disability coverage may last between two to ten years. Some can even last until the worker reaches retirement age.

Employees who pay into Unum’s disability policies may be able to file a Unum claim with the company if they become disabled and are unable to work. These policies may cover injuries and conditions including cancer, cardiovascular conditions, back disorders, and joint conditions.

While disability insurance cannot fully replace an employee’s wages, it may cover up to 60% of what they would usually earn. This money can be used to pay bills, medical expenses, day to day living expenses, and more — in fact, unlike general health insurance, disability insurance is meant to replace part of what you would be making if you had not been injured or become ill, so it can be used as you see fit to support yourself while you’re out of work.

What is involved in making an Unum claim for LTD?

To make an Unum claim for long term disability insurance, you may need to answer a series of questions about your injury or disability, as well as providing proof of your medical condition.

In addition to filling out a Unum long term disability insurance claim form, you may also need to provide additional documentation supporting your claimed disability. This additional documentation may include medical records, objective medical testing results such as X-rays, MRI scans, or blood tests, testimony from your doctor, or testimony from your employer.

Why was your Unum claim denied?

Unfortunately, many first time disability applicants have their claims denied. When these claims are related to mental health disabilities, they may be even more likely to be denied. However, many disability claims that are initially denied may be approved once they are appealed.

Your Unum long term disability insurance claim may be rejected for many reasons. Common reasons for claim denials include missing the deadline, failing to include all required paperwork and documentation, or failing to prove that you are actually disabled. The denial letter sent by your insurance company should detail the reasons your claim was denied. Studying this denial letter is the first step towards appealing your denied claim.

Many private disability insurance companies also conduct surveillance on disability applicants. As disability insurance companies often hire private investigators to do this work, the surveillance may be covert, and you may not even realize that anyone is paying attention to you. This surveillance may take the form of stake outs, or even approaching your friends or family to ask about your disability.

The point of surveilling potential disability benefits recipients is to verify the validity of their claimed disability. Although many people with legitimate disabilities find that they have good days and bad days, and that their condition routinely flares up and dissipates, it may be extremely important to follow your physician’s directions regarding your level of activity no matter how you are feeling. If a disability surveillance worker captures a photo or video of you engaged in actions that you claim your disability prevents you from doing, your Unum claim may be denied, and this evidence may be used against you in any future appeals.

In addition to surveillance conducted in the real world, disability insurance companies may also look into applicants’ social media profiles to see if you have posted photos or videos online of yourself engaging in activities that may contradict your disability claim.

Although many people already set their social media profiles to private or friends only, it may be smart to look into your privacy settings or refrain from posting anything that may undermine your pursuit of disability benefits.

What to do if your claim was denied

Even if your claim was denied, you may still be able to pursue disability insurance. The first step is to read through your denial letter to understand why your claim was denied – there are a variety of reasons. You should review your insurance policy to make sure that your disability is covered under your plan.

If the claim denial was due to a lack of documentation, you may be able to resubmit a claim with additional proof of disability.

If the application was denied due to missing or incomplete documents, tracking down any missing medical records may be worth your time. Additionally, including testimony from your doctors or employers about your level of disability may aid your case. In many cases, insurance providers want objective testing in addition to testimony, so including these test results could also be helpful.

Lastly, ensuring that you file your claim and appeals on time is very important. Missing an important deadline may lead to a denial in a case that would otherwise be approved.

The appeals process for short or long term disability may take months or years, leaving the applicant without income in the meantime.

As the process of navigating long term disability insurance claims and appeals may be complicated and frustrating for someone who is already dealing with an injury or disability, it may be helpful to speak to an experienced attorney about your case.

A qualified long term disability insurance attorney may be able to review your case, aid you in gathering documentation, and ensure that all deadlines are met. If you have exhausted your disability insurance appeals, an attorney may be able to aid you in filing a lawsuit against your insurance agency.

Filing a lawsuit after a denied Unum claim

A growing number of people are coming forward with allegations of unfairly denied disability claims, leaving them without important benefits when they need them the most. If your Unum claim was denied unjustly and you have exhausted all available levels of appeal, you may be able to file a lawsuit to access your benefits.

Filing a lawsuit can be a daunting prospect, especially over something as important as disability insurance, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.

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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