Every insurance company has their own versions of multiple questionnaires and narratives. These requests are NOT an opportunity for insureds to reduce their handwriting and printing to microscopic letters. In fact, while many of the questions on the questionnaire are wolves in sheep’s clothing, the answers are intended to be short and to the point.
In reality, insurers are permitted to ask you questions about your occupation, your impairment, and your finances. Beyond that, the questions are usually undercover questions written to find out what your functional capacity is so that insurers can use the information against you if they can.
Insurers have ways to determine work capacity from activities you describe. For example, gardening is the equivalent to 5-10 Mets which is at least sedentary capacity. Doing laundry in the cellar, carrying clothes upstairs and down is equivalent to 10+ Mets, which could be interpreted as “light functional capacity.” Let’s put it this way, the questions you are asked have been proven to be profitable, and that’s why insurers keep asking them again and again.
One of the most profitable questionnaire answered questions about activity voluntarily is, “I babysit my grandchildren on a regular basis.” This one question has probably produced more profit than any other. Insurers always claim anyone who babysits during the day can work.
Prudential denied a claim once because it was mentioned in a therapy note that the insured’s boyfriend lived with her and did not work. It was interesting how Prudential weaved that one into its denial. Questionnaires contain “trick” questions as well such as, “Describe your usual daily activities”, or some version of this question. Most people will begin to write about when they get up in the morning and describe everything they do until they go to bed. WRONG! Don’t do that!
This question pushes you to answer with much detail because it is an aid to “surveillance activity”. Details are NOT your friend when you have a disability claim. In fact, insureds should always answer truthfully, but only giving generic, or sterile answers. “Yes and No” are still very good responses.
Most insureds who receive questionnaires will reduce their handwriting just so they can write more information in the small spaces provided, or will attached pages, and on and on. This is a mistake.
Many insureds tell me, “I haven’t seen this form before.” It’s OK, most insurers have several versions of questionnaires – one they send to you, and one they send to your doctor. The points I’m trying to make here is that insureds should always answer truthfully only what they are asked, not providing detail.
It is so risky to volunteer information you aren’t asked when you have a disability claim. Keep your answers simple and to the point. Do not volunteer information. Remember, an insurance company can’t hold against you what you do not write. And, don’t let getting a questionnaire “rattle you.” In the whole scheme of things, a questionnaire is not that critical to a disability claim.
