I can’t believe in this day and age that claims handlers are still trying to sell field visits as “benign conversations, to better manage disability claims.” I’ve spoken to two Guardian claims handlers recently who fell over themselves trying to convince me how “harmless” these visits are.
Of course, this isn’t true. If field visits were only about “medications”, and activities, they wouldn’t need to take place because insurers already have that information in the file. Make no mistake. Field visits are “in-your-face, unclose, surveillance, and they always have adverse motives.To walk in to this kind of “risk activity” thinking insurers have your best interests at heart is a very big mistake.
For example, in a majority of cases the insurer already conducted surveillance (the day before, the day of, and the day after the visit) and will ask questions concerning what was observed hoping you will lie to them. Or, perhaps the field rep might ask questions to see if you’re going to change your story. Whatever the line of questioning might be, it ALWAYS has an adverse objective. Insureds who are unaware will always fall into the bottomless pit. If this were not true, insurers wouldn’t spend the money to have field visits.
I don’t know what it is with insureds these days, but the majority of people I’ve spoken to blindly go along with the insurance company’s agenda regardless of what it is, and tell me I’m crazy. Two months later, their claims are denied. A field visit is NOT just a dialog, or a conversation, it’s an interrogation that can potentially be used, along with other information, to deny claims. Field communication should be considered a Q&A (question and answer) event where the rep asks questions and the insured intelligently answers.
Information should NEVER be volunteered. The insured should answer the question only. “Yes”, and “No” are still very good answers and not every question requires a long tale. In fact, insureds should be QUIET, TALK LESS, AND GIVE SHORT ANSWERS.
I have written many detailed articles explaining field visits. Please go to my website to find other articles, or do a Search from this Homepage. There is a great deal to know about this, and it is recommended that you be prepared.
Field visits are serious business and should be taken seriously.
