What Not To Say When Applying For Florida Long-Term Disability Benefits

Among the benefits provided by your employer may be long-term disability insurance. This coverage can be a real lifesaver, as it helps offset lost earnings in the event an injury, severe illness, or other medical condition prevents you from working for a year or longer.

While employer-provided long-term disability coverage is subject to strict federal rules, it is administered and paid for by insurers, who are generally quick to dispute and deny claims. In filing your application, our Orlando long-term disability lawyer explains the information to provide and what not to say.

Be Wary When Dealing With Long-Term Disability Insurers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports long-term disability (LTD) insurance is available to nearly half the workforce. Included as part of employee health and wellness plans, it reimburses up to two-thirds of your lost wages if a chronic medical condition, illness, or accidental injury prevents you from working for a year or longer.

LTD coverage and other employee benefit programs fall under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act. ERISA, as it is commonly known, does not require employers to provide benefits but does govern how they are processed. It also dictates procedures for appealing denied claims.

If you or a loved one is filing for long-term disability benefits in Florida, be wary of insurers, who are quick to deny and downplay claims. To protect your rights, be sure to include the following information:

• A statement from your doctor providing an LTD diagnosis and your prognosis for recovery;
• All medical records and test results;
• Statements from your employer detailing lost wages and how your disability impacts you on the job;
• Statements from yourself, your family members, or friends explaining how your disability impacts other areas of your life.

What Not To Say To Florida Long-Term Disability Insurers

As part of filing a long-term disability claim in Florida, you will need to complete a lengthy questionnaire and will likely have to sit for one or more interviews with insurance representatives. Our Orlando long-term disability lawyer offers these tips in terms of what not to say:

• Do not downplay your condition or the symptoms you suffer;
• Do not exaggerate the impairments you suffer or how they impact your life;
• Avoid speculating about your diagnosis, any underlying causes of your condition, or your prognosis for the future;
• Refrain from discussing other medical conditions you suffer from but are not related to your long-term disability claim;
• Avoid discussing hobbies, social activities, household repairs, travel plans, or anything that might cause the insurer to doubt your degree of impairment.

To Protect Your Rights, Schedule A Consultation With Our Florida Long-Term Disability Lawyer Today

Employer-provided long-term disability insurance can help cover lost income if you are unable to work. Unfortunately, insurers frequently dispute claims. To protect your rights, contact Farrell Disability Law. We provide trusted legal guidance in filing a claim and the fierce representation needed to appeal denied benefits.  Schedule a consultation today in our Orlando or Jacksonville office with our Florida long-term disability lawyer.

Sources:

bls.gov/opub/ted/2020/short-term-and-long-term-disability-insurance-for-civilian-workers-in-2020.htm

dol.gov/general/topic/health-plans/erisa#:~:text=The%20Employee%20Retirement%20Income%20Security,for%20individuals%20in%20these%20plans.