Many workers will have their disability insurance policies governed by ERISA. ERISA is extremely complicated and there are several things that must be done in order for the claims to be approved. Frequently, these claims are denied, leaving workers in a terrible position. This posting discusses some of the things that you should do to ensure that you are taking the appropriate steps with your ERISA disability coverage claim.
Understand your plan
The first thing that you should do when you have an ERISA claim is to review your policy. Your employer will provide you with a current copy of your group disability insurance plan. This information is vital, as it will tell you exactly what sort of rules and procedures will apply in your case. You have to know what your plan considers a disability, as well as how the plan handles pre-existing conditions. Without this knowledge, you could find yourself extremely frustrated as things move forward.
Communicate with your doctor
Every ERISA disability claim will require supporting evidence from your doctor or physician. This information must clearly state why you are suffering from a condition that makes you unable to work. Without this supporting documentation, the insurance company may reject your claim right away, as they may not believe that you are truly disabled.
Find an experienced ERISA attorney
As you can probably guess, this is not going to be easy. Even if you follow every single procedure properly, your disability claims may be denied. Appealing these denials will make things that much more complicated, and, make the stakes even higher.
If you try to handle this process on your own, you are going to make mistakes. It will happen. You will do something that makes things that much more complicated and challenging, and, you could possibly even threaten the potential success of your claim.
Working with an experienced ERISA attorney will help take a lot of pressure off of you. It will allow you to focus on your health and help you manage the stress that you may be going through at this time. You do not have to be the one calling and arguing with insurers, as your attorney will be able to stand up for you at all times as your claim moves forward.
You might be afraid to consult an attorney because you think it may be too expensive. Most will offer a free consultation to help you learn more about your claims, and if you and the attorney are a match for each other. The right lawyer will keep you informed about your case and keep you involved in the process.