Northwestern Mutual is often at the top of lists of quality long term disability insurance carriers and was recently given an AA+ rating by S&P—the highest possible financial strength rating in the U.S. market. But this financial strength can be a double-edged sword for disability insurance claimants. At Dell & Schaefer, we’ve learned that when it comes time to file a disability lawsuit against Northwestern Mutual, claimants can expect a fight. Northwestern tends to dig in and mount a vigorous defense to a disability claim, and claimants who aren’t prepared for this process can quickly find themselves overwhelmed. From requests for records and financial documentation to secret video surveillance, learn more about the expectations long term disability claimants should have when preparing to sue Northwestern Mutual.  Continue Reading What to Expect From a Northwestern Mutual Disability Insurance Benefit Lawsuit

If you’re the holder of an individual or group long term disability insurance policy through the Equitable insurance company, you’re luckier than many claimants – these policies are generally thorough and high-quality, offering an expansive definition of disability and fairly few limitations as compared to other long term disability insurance policies. But proving to Equitable and its third party claims investigator that you’re entitled to disability benefits can still seem like an uphill battle for many claimants. What should disability claimants know about the disability insurance claim approval process and what they can expect from Equitable?

GREG DELL: Hi. I’m Greg Dell here with attorney Cesar Gavidia. And we are going to discuss the Equitable insurance company today. And specifically, we’re going to discuss how they handle long-term disability insurance claims. Now, Cesar, we know Equitable is a unique disability claim because of the fact that they commonly use a third-party administrator, known as Disability Management Services, to administer their claims. What’s been your experience when working with claims from the Equitable? Continue Reading Equitable Disability Insurance Claim Benefits Overview and Legal Tips

Are you waiting for your disability insurance carrier to APPROVE your claim? Attorneys Gregory Dell and Stephen Jessup discuss what you can expect while waiting for your disability insurance claim decision. Learn the factors that effect a disability insurance claim decision, what an “Elimination Period” is, and stalling tactics the carriers take advantage of.

Continue Reading How Long Does Long Term Disability Take to Process?

Knowing when and how to file for long term disability insurance benefits under a Lincoln Financial policy can be a challenge, and this process can be fraught with potential pitfalls that may not be apparent to many claimants. Learn more about what to expect when filing a disability insurance claim with Lincoln Financial and how the attorneys at Dell & Schafer can help you navigate this stage of your disability insurance claim.

Understand Your Disability Policy Language and What it Requires

When it comes to disability insurance, there are two prevailing schools of thought—(1) disability insurance benefits claims should be paid if the claimant can no longer do their job; and (2) disability insurance benefits claims should be paid only if the claimant can no longer do any job. Knowing which of these categories your own Lincoln Financial policy falls into will tell you what you need to prove to win your disability claim. Continue Reading How to Apply for Disability Insurance Benefits with Lincoln Financial

Sun Life Disability provides group long term disability policies to U.S.-based customers – and, like just about all disability insurance carriers, denies a fair number of claims for benefits. But because Sun Life isn’t necessarily one of the biggest names in disability insurance, claimants who are seeking (or considering seeking) benefits from Sun Life may feel like they’re in the dark. Is Sun Life a fair company to deal with? What do they look for when approving or denying a claim? Learn more about what can happen if Sun Life denies your claim for disability benefits, as well as how you can appeal this disability denial or even file a lawsuit.

Continue Reading Sun Life Disability Insurance Income Lawsuit & Benefit Denial Tips

At Dell & Schaefer, we’ve seen our share of disability insurance claim denial letters from Guardian Disability Insurance Company. Read on or watch the video to learn more about what’s involved in filing a lawsuit against Guardian and what claimants should be able to expect from the process. Elsewhere, we’ve talked about Guardian Disability generally and about the ERISA appeals process against this agency, but this transcript will exclusively discuss what it’s like to litigate a claim against Guardian Disability in court.

Continue Reading The Guardian Disability Lawsuit

Mass Mutual Insurance Company isn’t one of the big names in disability coverage, even though it does offer individual and group long-term disability policies. If you’ve been injured and are unable to work, Mass Mutual will pay you disability benefits according to the terms of your disability policy—but this coverage often doesn’t come without some hiccups, and benefit denials are common. What should claimants know about appealing the denial of a Mass Mutual disability benefit claim, including an ERISA lawsuit?

GREGORY DELL: Hi, I’m attorney Gregory Dell here with attorney Cesar Gavidia. And we are going to talk to you about private disability insurance lawsuits against Mass Mutual Insurance Company. And Cesar, the reason I said that they’re private disability suits is, at least from 99% of the cases we’ve seen is that the people who are buying these, Mass Mutual, long-term disability insurance policies have bought them from an agent. And basically, what that is that makes it a private contract. And that contract says that if you’re unable to work or whatever the definition of disability is, then Mass Mutual will pay you disability benefits.
Continue Reading Mass Mutual Disability Lawsuit and Benefit Claim Denial Information

Over the years, our disability insurance attorneys have reviewed thousands of disability insurance denial-of-coverage letters from Reliance Standard. Simply put, Reliance Standard makes it difficult for their policy holders to receive their disability insurance benefits. But disability claimants have the right to appeal a denial of coverage, and it’s possible to win these claims. Learn more about the litigation process and your options after a claim denial.

What to Know About the Reliance Disability Insurance Lawsuit Process

A group disability policy provided by your employer (like many Reliance Standard policies) is governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA). ERISA requires insurance companies to offer certain types of policies, expanding the options available to employees; however, this comes at the cost of certain litigation rights.
Continue Reading Attorney Tips: Reliance Standard Disability Lawsuit and Claim Denial Options

MetLife is a gigantic disability insurance company that sells both short-term disability (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) benefit policies. You may not realize that each policy is different. This means that your best shot at avoiding a denied disability claim, and of being approved without needing to go through an appeals process, is to have the help of a disability insurance law firm.

At Dell & Schaefer, the first thing we do is review your policy. We determine exactly the definition used in your policy for disability and work from there. Often, for the first 24-months of receiving disability, you must show that you are unable to perform the material duties of your own occupation. After that, the definition may change and require you to show you are unable to perform the duties of any occupation for which you have education or training.
Continue Reading How Can I Get Approved for MetLife Disability Insurance Benefits?

Are you running into roadblocks with your doctor as it relates to asking for disability? In this video and article, disability insurance Attorneys Gregory Dell and Cesar Gavidia discuss how to ask your doctor for disability, how to get your doctors to complete disability insurance documentation, and the importance of keeping your doctors informed of your daily struggles, symptoms, and the limitations that effect the requirements of your job.

GREG DELL: Hi, I’m Greg Dell with attorneys Dell & Schaefer here with Cesar Gavidia. And today’s disability insurance question is, “How do I ask my doctor for disability?” And this is probably, Cesar, one of the most challenging aspects of any disability claim because you know that if you don’t have medical support, you’re never getting approved for disability. That’s the way it goes with any of these disability claims.
Continue Reading How Do I Ask My Doctor For Disability?