It can be both stressful and disheartening if your employer’s insurance company denies your claim for long-term disability benefits. Through this time of high anxiety, you must remember that you have the right to appeal this denial.
However, before beginning the process of an appeal, there are a few critical steps you should take.
3 steps after receiving a denial letter
The denial letter may be the last thing you want to look at after opening it in the mail, but it is a key piece of the puzzle to your appeal. When you receive a denial letter, you should:
- Read it again: A denial letter will include important information, such as why the insurance company denied your claim and critical details about how to begin the appeal process. Generally, these details should include the dates of when you should file the appeal as well as how to approach the process.
- Review the evidence summarized: The letter should also include or at least reference the evidence the insurer reviewed. You should examine this summary to make sure the documents are correct. You may have to request copies of the evidence reviewed. In some cases, insurance companies fail to obtain all of the relevant medical records, even if applicants released the information to let them acquire it. A lack of medical evidence is one of the most common reasons long-term disability claims are denied, so you should take care reviewing this summary.
- Take notes: It is a good idea to keep a personal record throughout the entire process of your claim, noting the symptoms you experience regularly and the treatment you receive. It is helpful for this record to include the details of your claim as well. So, if you receive your denial letter, you can file the information in this personal record for your reference as you begin the appeal process.
The most important thing to remember after receiving a denial letter is that it is not the end. You can still obtain the long-term disability benefits you need through an appeal.