Doctors Earn Millions to Aid Long Term Disability Insurance Companies to Deny Claims

You bought a long term disability policy to provide you and your family peace of mind if you became disabled. Every year, millions of Americans file for long term disability as a result of illness or injury. Unfortunately, long term disability carriers are in the business of collecting premiums and not paying benefits. One of the ways that they legally deny long term disability claims is by hiring medical doctors to write reports about whether there is an objective basis for the diagnosis, objective basis of any restrictions and limitations, whether they are capable of working in at least a sedentary capacity.

Under the ERISA law, the opinions of the insurance company hired doctors’ carry more weight because the ERISA disability policies have a magic “discretionary” clause in the policy. That discretionary clause is a get out of jail free card for disability insurance companies. Companies are free to deny any disability claim so long as they have a reason. And, who supplies them with the reason, doctors. Physicians like a psychiatrist Dr. Steven Gerson, who, according to court records has made over $1 million in 4 years reviewing disability files and rendering unfavorable opinions to disability insurance companies.

How does this work? When you file a claim for disability benefits, your disability insurance company will send your file to a medical review company who has employed a cadre of doctors from different medical specialties. These firms, set up a review, collect millions of dollars a year for their services and coach their doctors never to use the word “disabled” in their reports.

These physicians, rarely, if ever, examine patients and base their opinions on limited medical review.

If your long term disability claim has been denied as a result of a “peer review” or a “independent medical evaluation” don’t give up! Long term disability carriers don’t always make it easy for those who are disabled to get the disability benefits that they deserve. You will have 180 days from the day of the denial letter in which to file an appeal letter challenging the long term disability carriers’ denial. You can learn more about your rights to long term disability benefits and how you can appeal your claim’s denial by contacting ERISA long term disability attorney Nancy Cavey who can help you get the benefits that you deserve, regardless of where you live in the United States. **Cite to Evan George, Dailyjournal.com, Doctors’ Paid to Aid Insurers in Disability Claim’s Denial ADD LINK**