If you’ve recently received a denial letter from Mutual of Omaha on your claim for long term disability insurance benefits, you may be worried and wondering about your next steps. Fortunately, the appeal process can present one of the best opportunities to resolve your claim for benefits. Read on for some legal tips that may come in handy when filing a Mutual of Omaha long term disability benefits appeal.
The Mutual of Omaha Claim File Must be Reviewed to Submit a Successful Appeal
Mutual of Omaha’s denial letter is usually anywhere from 3 to 10 pages long, but it may not give you all the information you need to know exactly why your long term disability claim was denied. Instead, you’ll need to order a copy of Mutual of Omaha’s claim file. This will show you everything Mutual of Omaha’s claims adjusters looked at when deciding whether to approve or deny your disability insurance claim, including some you’ve never seen before. Poking figurative holes in these documents (and, by extension, Mutual of Omaha’s review process) is the easiest way to tilt the scales in your favor as a long term disability claimant.
The Medical Records are Essential as Your Claim is Only as Good as it Looks on Paper
When you appeal Mutual of Omaha’s denial of long term disability benefits, you must provide enough evidence to show proof of disability. In many cases, claimants haven’t supplied Mutual of Omaha with the records they’re looking for in the unique language disability insurance carriers tend to use. In other words, even if it’s clear from looking at your records that you have a genuine medical condition that affects your ability to work, if your doctor filled out the claim forms in a haphazard way or didn’t explicitly say that you are unable to work, Mutual of Omaha may deny the claim out of hand.
Our job is to identify any weaknesses in your documentation and provide supplemental records and statements that will help carry your long term disability claim over the threshold.
We Often Rely on Vocational Experts to Document Occupational Duties and the Skills Required for the Job
One of the tools we use to help strengthen clients’ long term disability claims involves the use of medical experts, vocational experts, and others who can establish a particular claimant’s range of occupational duties and physical capabilities. Vocational experts can carefully examine your job duties and provide the documentation Mutual of Omaha needs to see to decide you’re truly unable to perform the demands of your individual position.
What is the “Chinese Wall” in the Appeal Process and Does it Help Claimants to Win an Appeal?
The appeal process is the most important stage in a long term disability claim, and it’s crucial to seek advice from an experienced disability insurance attorney during this process. In the vast majority of Mutual of Omaha long term disability insurance claims, the record on appeal is it – even if the appeal is denied and the claimant chooses to sue in civil court, no additional information will be allowed into the record put before the judge. This “Chinese wall” can help claimants win on appeal by ensuring that the record is as complete as it can be before the final appeal is tendered.
If you’d like some help in tackling your Mutual of Omaha appeal, look no further than Dell & Schaefer. Our experienced team of disability insurance attorneys has helped hundreds of Mutual of Omaha claimants recover benefits, and all we need to get started is a copy of your denial letter and your long term disability policy. Get in touch today to set up your FREE consultation.
Long Term Disability Law Blog
