Disability Insurance Articles

Claiming Disability Payments And What To Expect From The Company

2010-09-13

A disability insurance plan is intended to provide income for someone who becomes unable to work. Claiming disability payments is usually fairly straightforward. Understanding how to file a claim and what you can expect will help to make it even easier.

At the point that you need to file a claim look over your copy of the policy. There is a waiting period before benefits begin to be paid. The disability insurance plan should also tell you whom to contact to file a claim and what the deadlines are.

When claiming disability payments there will be a claim form to fill out. The form will ask for information about your disability, the name of your health care provider and other pertinent facts about your claim. Have your doctor complete a statement giving your restrictions and work limitations due to the disability along with the expected length of your disability. Your employer will need to complete a statement detailing the duties of your job and your compensation at the time of the disability. The insurance company may request additional information from your employer as needed.

In order for the insurer to get your medical records you will need to sign an Authorization for Release of Medical Information. After reviewing your medical records the insurance company may request that you be examined by a physician of their choosing at their expense. These basic forms should be submitted before any deadline approaches. Additional information will likely be required by the insurance company and you may want to start to gather the information while the claim is being reviewed. Gather your medical records from all of your health care providers that have treated your condition and can substantiate your claim.

Write out a detailed job description. Include your duties, both mental and physical, in the description. List the hours that your work and any conditions such as working in a warehouse with no air conditioning or standing on your feet all day. Successfully claiming disability payments relies on being able to prove that your condition prevents you from doing your job.

You can expect to be contacted by the insurance company if they need more information or have questions. Document those conversations with the name and position of the person you spoke to. Keep any letters or documentation you get in the mail from the insurer.

Keeping detailed records and providing the company with all of the information they request in a timely way will help to get your claim approved more quickly. Once the benefits from your disability insurance plan begin you will start to receive regular benefit checks from the insurance company and your premiums will likely be waived.