Long Term Disability Law Blog
Equitable is one of many disability insurance carriers that offers long term disability policies to employees (through their employers) and individual purchasers. But unlike some of the other big names in the disability insurance business, Equitable relies on a third-party administrator to manage its claims approval process, which means you won’t be dealing directly with your insurance carrier. Having your claim managed through a “middleman” can create some inefficiencies you’ll need to learn to work around. Read on to see what you should expect from an Equitable disability claim and how you may be able to improve your odds of being approved for disability insurance benefits.
Equitable Long Term Disability Insurance Claims and Tips For Getting Paid Disability Benefits
Equitable enlists third-party contractor Disability Management Services (DMS) to investigate disability insurance claims and make a final recommendation on whether to approve or deny disability insurance benefits. Because DMS deals exclusively in claims investigation, its process can be painstakingly thorough, much to the frustration of many disability insurance claimants and their employers. Prevailing in an Equitable disability claim can require attention to detail and thorough documentation of your medical issues.
There Are Many Advantages to Having a Private Disability Policy that is Not Provided by an Employer
When it comes to claiming long term disability benefits, the type of policy a claimant has – individual or group – can make far more of a difference in how a disability insurance claim proceeds than who administers the disability insurance policy. Individual policies allow the claimant to request a jury trial and litigate their claim in state or federal court. Group or ERISA policies don’t allow for a jury trial or witness testimony and may be litigated only in federal court.
Equitable Has Historically Sold Good Disability Policies But You Must Be Prepared to Get Paid
Some disability policies are so rife with exceptions and exclusions that they’re hardly worth the money paid for them. Equitable policies, on the other hand, tend to be fairly high quality as far as long term disability insurance policies go. They have few limitations on the types of disabilities that are eligible for benefits and define “disability” broadly. But because of Equitable’s thorough claims investigation process, claimants must be well-prepared before filing their disability claim to prevail.
The Equitable Disability Policies Usually Give Clients Options and We Want to Achieve Your Goals
Around 90 percent of disability insurance denials that are appealed ultimately settle before trial. Settlements can benefit both parties; the disability insurance claimant can have “a bird in the hand,” as the saying goes; meanwhile, the disability insurance carrier eliminates the risks that can come with trial and can set a dollar amount on their liability, close the claimant’s file, and move on.
Most disability insurance settlements involve a lump sum payout instead of a series of future payments. Again, this can provide a win-win scenario: disability claimants have full control of all the money they’re being awarded, while the insurance carrier can close the door on this long term disability claim without maintaining any ongoing financial obligation to the disability claimant.
You Don’t Need to Stop Living Your Life in Order to Collect Equitable Disability Benefits
One common misconception among disability claimants is that if they can drive, travel, or perform other basic activities, they’re not “disabled” enough to receive long term disability benefits. But this isn’t the case, especially with Equitable disability insurance policies. Because Equitable’s definition of disability is so broad and usually will allow for benefits so long as the claimant can’t perform their current job, the ability to perform other non-job-related activities isn’t usually seen as relevant.
If you need help navigating your Equitable policy, you’re not alone. Dell & Schaefer can provide disability claimants with a FREE no-obligation consultation, so don’t delay – get in touch with one of our experienced long term disability attorneys today.