Why is it so Painful to Deal with the Long Term Disability Insurance Company?

Wondering why it’s so painful to deal with the Long Term Disability insurance company? We’re sharing our experience with it below.

One thing which positively drives people into my office is the manner in which Short Term Disability and Long Term Disability Claims Representatives treat claimants.  The reports I get from clients are astonishing.  It is not just the outright lies but it is the misinformation and behavior which, quite frankly, is abusive and rises to the level of bullying.            

The misinformation given to my clients is routine. For example, the suggestion that a benefit denial can be appealed with a simple letter saying “I appeal.”  This is the time when the crucial evidence in your claim has to be gathered by you, and this needs to be done by the attorney you have hired to handle this critical phase of your claim.  Or, the suggestion that if you use a particular Social Security Disability attorney, they will pay the attorney’s fees.  The fact is that they are required to pay those fees regardless of the Social Security Disability attorney you hire.            

The harassment is during the telephone calls, with insistent demands for personal information which they always need tomorrow (but only because they have not worked your file as they should).  They demand a return phone call which only leads to your never-ending efforts to get through the Long Term Disability insurance company phone maze so you can leave a voice mail which is ignored.            

There is a movement in this country to stop bullying in our school systems, something about which we can all agree.  Unfortunately, the behavior of the claims representatives, as reported to me by my clients, rises to the level of bullying.  Unfortunately, on cases governed by the federal statute known as ERISA, these claims representatives act as if they are immune from state laws governing their behavior.  It is no holds barred and the unfortunate victim is the person who has already had his or her life turned upside down by a disabling medical condition.  It is certain the behavior is corporate in nature as it is designed specifically to get people to walk away from claims because the process is too onerous.  I’ve said it before and it remains my opinion: insurance companies commit 95% of the insurance fraud about which they so bitterly complain.            

If you have any questions about your Short Term Disability or Long Term Disability claim, please give Herbert M. Hill, P.A. a call and we would be glad to answer any questions you may have.   We are available at 407-839-0005 or, toll-free, 844-454-59995,  If you would like, after discussing your case, we can set a conference.  In most circumstances, that conference would be free of charge but in no circumstance would you be under any obligation to hire me nor would you feel any pressure from me to do so.           

Herbert M. Hill, P.A. is a law firm located in Orlando, Florida with a practice extending throughout the state of Florida.  While the vast majority of cases handled are for disability insurance benefits, areas of practice include employee benefit claims of all sorts.  The firm handles any claims arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (“ERISA”) for disability benefits, medical benefits, retirement benefits of any sort, including pension, 401k, termination agreements or the like as well as claims arising under private disability policies.