Long-Term Disability Attorney for Denials and Appeals

Long-term disability claims are different than most other types of insurance claims. Most lawyers, even social security and worker’s compensation lawyers, don’t handle long-term disability claims.  The reason is many long-term disability insurance policies are governed by a federal law called ERISA

ERISA governs most group long-term disability policies, which are obtained through your employer.  Even federal judges agree that ERISA is a law that is literally rigged in favor the insurance company.  

The law is so complex and contains many unforgiving rules and deadlines, we believe having our attorney who is experienced and trained in the law of ERISA for a long-term disability appeals on your side is a must.  The most important question to ask for these cases is "Are you experienced in ERISA?" 

Our long-term disability lawyer helps claimants receive the long-term disability (LTD) benefits they deserve after an illness or injury.  We are experienced in handling claims that arise from both group (ERISA) and individual (non-ERISA) long-term disability policies.  If you are thinking of applying for long-term disability or if you recently had your benefits denied or terminated, we can help.


FAQs

Q:  Does a case consultation cost anything?

A:  No. If you were denied disability benefits, we will review your denial letter for free, and provide a strategy on the next steps of how to move forward.

Q:  What can I expect when I hire your firm to represent me?

A:  Our services are adaptable to your specific situation.  When you hire us for an appeal of a denied claim, we work on a contingency fee basis.  This means we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.  If you are looking to file a claim and have not been denied, we can assist on a flat fee or hourly basis depending on the amount of work involved.  We are ready to work with you every step of the way to ensure you get the benefits you deserve.

Q:  Are you experienced in handling ERISA?

A:  Yes!  Our attorney is one of the very few nationwide trained in ERISA long-term disability claims.  His extensive experience is in appeals and also litigation, if necessary.  Whether your long-term disability insurance was obtained through your employer’s group plan (likely, an ERISA plan) or on an individual basis, The Law Office of Kevin McManus is ready to help navigate you through the process.

Q:  Do I need to be a resident of Missouri or Kansas to hire you?

A:  No.  ERISA, the law that governs most long-term disability cases, is a federal law that applies nationwide.  We're based in Kansas City, Missouri, and handle cases throughout Kansas and Missouri, and are also able to assist clients nationwide with local counsel as needed.


How Our Long-Term Disability Attorney Can Help

If you have a long-term disability claim, here's how we can help right now:

  1. If you have been denied long-term disability benefits or had your benefits terminated, we will review your denial letter for free.  You can email/fax/mail your denial letter to us. We'll provide a free review and strategy on moving forward to get your benefits reinstated.  While this service is free, you must act quickly.  There are short deadlines that apply.  Our firm handles everything to prepare and submit the appeal for your benefits to be reinstated.  If you have already filed your administrative appeal, we may be able to assist by filing a lawsuit against the insurance company. 
  2. If you want to learn more about long-term disability claims or appeals, download our long-term disability attorney's free disability guide, Danger: Proceed at Your Own RiskThis book shares helpful tips and strategies to get your benefits paid.  You may also want to review our free articles, blogs, and FAQ's on long-term disability claims.  
  3. Call us today to get the help you need with your disability claim.  We can be reached at 816-203-0143 or through our website contact form or chat.  Our law firm believes in empowering our clients, and we want to help those who are struggling with disability insurance get the information they need to make the best choice possible.  We assist in representation of ERISA disability cases nationwide with local counsel, at no additional cost and approval of the court. 

What is ERISA & How Does It Impact My Long-Term Disability Claim?

ERISA is a federal law that strongly favors insurance companies.  The law is complex and has specific rules and very short deadlines that you must follow.  If you do not, your appeal for benefits will be immediately denied by the insurance company.  With these LTD claims, it's best if you don't wait!

ERISA is an acronym that stands for the "Employee Retirement Income Security Act."  Congress passed ERISA to protect private health and pension plans, and it also governs many group long-term disability plans.  ERISA sets out how disability claims are processed and how appeals are handled. 

If your long-term disability is governed by ERISA, you should have received a document stating that ERISA applies.  If you aren't sure, our experienced ERISA-trained attorney can help.  Our long-term disability attorney has handled ERISA claims and appeals nationwide, and will review your denial letter for free and provide you with the next steps and a strategy for moving forward.

Our attorney is experienced in long-term disability claims, whether your long-term disability insurance was obtained through your employer’s group plan (likely, an ERISA plan) or on an individual basis.  If you have been denied benefits or are were recently cut off from receiving benefits, we can help you.  Call us today at 816-203-0143.


Learn Why ... Most LTD Claims are Denied, How to Fight Back, and Win. 

Download Our Free Disability Appeal Guide, Danger: Proceed at Your Own Risk

Long Term Disability Lawyer in Kansas City Free BookOur Free Long-Term Disability Book Shares with You:

  • 13 scary myths and truths of long-term disability insurance
  • Why federal judges say that ERISA is a "loaded deck" stacked against you 
  • 3 types of claims insurance companies almost always deny 
  • The most important thing you can do to get your benefits restored
  • How ERISA disability claims are different (not knowing this will wreck your case!)
  • 7 deadly provisions you don't want to see in your disability policy and what to do about them
  • 6 things you must do after getting a denial letter 
  • The exact steps taken to file a winning appeal and MORE!

Insurance Company Denial Tactics for Long-Term Disability Claims

Insurance companies are in business to make money.  Adjusters are trained on tactics to use to maximize company profits and minimize payments on claims.  Such tactics include delaying coverage decisions, denying valid claims, and hiring attorneys to defend denials.

Other tactics used by disability insurance companies include:

  • Asserting that there is “Insufficient Medical Proof” for your claim, even though you have treating doctors that support and document your disability.
  • Hiring its own physician who has never seen or examined you to discredit your treating physicians.
  • Requiring a Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE) report or Transitional Skills Analysis (TSA), to establish functional capacities for jobs that you do not have.

Fighting back against an insurance denial is difficult and complex, and the insurance companies know most people don't know how.  They have been in business for years and have the resources, attorneys, and even medical professionals needed to support their actions. They know most people won’t go to the trouble to hire a lawyer to appeal their decision or even take legal action.  And they are right.

Most people don’t fight back.  But our law firm DOES.  Call us today at 816-203-0413 or contact us online through our email or chat

We're here to help, and on your side!


Long-Term Disability Insurance Companies That Deny Claims

The market for long-term disability is saturated with companies that offer both employer-sponsored plans governed by ERISA and individuals plans. 

These LTD companies include:

Many of these plans were sold to large employers and likely seemed like cash cows.  However, with more and more claims, denials have become the easiest way to cut costs.  Regardless of which company you are dealing with, your policy promised to take care of you in the event you couldn’t do your job.  Our law firm can help uphold that promise.


Get the Help You Need with Our Long-Term Disability Attorney

Long-term disability policies and the law of ERISA strongly favor insurance companies.  These laws were not written for consumers, and it is easy to make a mistake in appealing a long-term disability denial.  You get only one try at an appeal.  For this reason, we strongly recommend you consult with our ERISA-trained long-term disability attorney early in the process.

Our nationwide long-term disability attorney is ready to work diligently to assist you in filing a claim or appeal that is clear, concise, and complete with all required information.  While we can't guarantee an outcome, we've been extremely successful fighting these types of claims.  Our goal is to make the insurance company pay any current and back benefits you are owed and maximize the recovery under your long-term disability policy.

If you have a long-term disability claim, here's how we can help you:

  1. Call us today at 816-203-0143, for a free denial letter review and consultation about your LTD claim.  If you have not submitted your claim for LTD benefits, we can help by reviewing the policy and claim documents and offer guidance on ways to strengthen your claim.
  2. Send us your denial letterWe will review it for free and provide a strategy on how to fight back.  You can fax it to us right now at 816-722-2461.
  3. Download our free long-term disability guidebook, Danger: Proceed at Your Own RiskOur nationwide ERISA attorney wrote this book to help claimants better understand long-term disability claims.  It's packed with helpful information about LTD claims and appeals, including the exact steps to take to get back on claim.

ImportantIf you have already appealed a denial and it was still rejected, we can review your appeal to see if we can be of assistance.  However, we do not recommend you wait to contact us or that you attempt to appeal your denial without our ERISA-trained attorney.  Most LTD policies only allow one appeal.  If your appeal was insufficient, contact us immediately because ERISA laws generally prohibit submitting additional evidence later on.  (This is another way ERISA favors insurance companies).

Contact us today at 816-203-0143 or online through our email or chatWith the strict deadlines, you don't want to destroy your right to appeal.  Our long-term disability attorney will help with the next stepsWe're on your side!

 

Kevin J. McManus
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Kevin McManus is an accident injury and disability lawyer in Kansas City, MO, and Overland Park, KS