Lincoln Financial, along with many other disability insurance companies, has a reputation for denying claims. It makes sense they would do that despite their advertising about how great they are. The more money they do not have to pay to claimants the more money the disability insurance company makes for itself. At Dell & Schaefer, our experience has taught us what needs to be done to avoid a Lincoln Financial disability claim denial and what every disability insurance claimant needs to do monthly to stay on claim.
Lincoln Financial Requires Strong Medical Documentation with Reports from Appropriate Treating Physicians
As the claimant, you have the burden of proving you are disabled and unable to perform the material duties of your own occupation. This definition of disability usual applies for the first two years that you are unable to work.
Your treating physicians need to provide more than just a list of your symptoms, a diagnosis, and test results. They must also note how those things affect your ability to perform your job duties. This means your doctors need to have a complete job description from you so they can see what the expectations are. This enables them to be able to explain to Lincoln Financial how your diagnosis and symptoms make it impossible for you to work.
Providing Your Doctor with a Symptom Log and Limitations You Experience on Your Ability to do Your Job Makes It More Difficult for Lincoln Financial to Deny Your Claim
Doctor’s notes often are repetitious due to the way technology pulls up the last visit notes for each new visit. The notes may say over and over, “Feeling better today.” The company will use that against you to try and say you are doing well and can go back to work. If you ask your physician to attach your log to your medical file, the log will be part of your record and be an accurate report of the status of your condition. This will make it more difficult for Lincoln Financial to deny your claim.
Lincoln Financial Often Denies Claims After Two Years When the Definition of Disability Changes Unless You Prepare for the Change
After two years of collecting benefits because you are unable to work in your own occupation, most policies change the definition and require you to prove you are unable to work in any occupation for which you have training, education, or experience. This is the time that many claims are denied.
We begin preparing for this change months ahead of time. We educate you and your doctors on what is needed in your medical records to support your inability to perform the duties of any occupation. This means having current medical records that include updated testing, diagnosis, and treatment.
Lincoln Financial Allows Us to Submit an Addendum to the Financial Claims Form
The generic claim form that is sent to hundreds of people across the country basically has boxes for you to check off or short spaces for you to respond. These are insufficient to provide the detailed information needed to support your claim. We always submit an addendum, so we go above and beyond what Lincoln Financial is asking for. We provide your medical records, treating physician statements, medications list, and explain how your condition makes it impossible for you to do your job.
At Dell & Schaefer, we provide a monthly claim handling service. We do not get paid unless you get paid, so we have a vested interest in making sure you stay on claim. We know what medical documentation is periodically required and strive to keep your file updated to be sure your claim is not denied.
We are particularly aware of how the change of disability definition from being unable to perform the duties of your own occupation to proving you are unable to perform the duties of any occupation effects your claim. We ward off denial by preparing months in advance for this change.
No matter where you are in the claim process, we provide a free consultation to let you know if and how we can help. Contact us online or at 800-411-9085.