Many people in the United States are living in fear today because nearly 7.2% of the middle class is out of work. That’s 11 million people who do not have money coming in (except unemployment) every month. On top of that about another 1.5 milliion have disability claims which are denied each year. Therefore, a similarity can be made between the working unemployed, and disabled persons who have lost their disability benefits in that both groups are scared to death about not having any money. That’s quite a few people living fearfully in this country.
The two groups described above are different in that the relationship between employee and employer is ended when one loses a job. On the other hand, disability claimants must continue to deal with the endless paperwork and demands of an insurance company that never seems to end. Most of us can usually deal with life’s trials and pitfalls when we know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
On the other hand when one has a disability claim – that light is non-existent and the worry of having to depend on an insurance company for rent, and food and shoes for the kids is sometimes more than anyone can take.
The bad news is that insurance companies take advantage of the vulnerability of its insureds and deliberately design the system to keep insureds afraid, stressed, and sometimes angry. Disability insurers want you to believe anything they tell you that’s why policy provisions are always cited in the letters they send. (Well, that’s one reason anyway.) Insurance companies want to gain your trust so that when claims are denied you can say, “I don’t like the fact my claim was denied, but I appreciate that you did it!” (Are they kidding?)
Insurance companies are, afterall, just insurance companies. Their hold on the insured is the dependence of financial support which can be withdrawn at any time. It’s a real threat. Imagine going through life with someone holding a cement block over your head they could drop at any moment.
So, what do we do, you’re probably asking? And, here’s the key……never let a disability insurer have a consensus of opinion about anything. Whatever you think the insurance company can do to you, you can do also, and probably better.
This is what we do at DCS, Inc. We have private investigators, our own vocational reps, our own experienced medical RNs who can review claims, our own IME physicians, our own recommended attorneys with success records for ERISA and bad faith claims, and even our own neuropsychologists who can interpret and conduct psychological tests.
On a personal level, an individual claimant can start by not allowing the claims specialist to have control over any part of the process. Begin by asking for all questions and phone interviews in writing….that way there can be no misinterpretation as to what is said or not said. By controlliing the disability claim process yourself you can forge the way to becoming less fearful of the process. Never allow a disability insurer to obtain medical records on your behalf. Rather, request and send in all records yourself. This way you can be sure of what the insurer has, and what they do not have. YOU are in charge, not the other way around.
