Delaying a claim is a very common insurance company tactic. When it comes to long term disability (LTD), the insurance companies know that you badly need the money. They delay claims knowing that some claimants will become desperate enough to try to do some kind of work, just to keep roofs over their heads and food on the table. And by doing so, claimants can destroy their claims, letting the insurance company off the hook, even if the attempt to make a living fails. In other cases, the disabled person is in such bad shape that they just can’t handle or become incapable of fighting the insurance company and give up. If you believe that the insurance company is delaying your claim, please talk to LTD appeals attorney Fred J. Fleming today.
ERISA Deadlines
Under ERISA, the insurance company has 45 days to either make a decision on your claim, meaning to approve or deny, or to notify you that it is extending the review for 30 days.
If it extends the time to review, it must tell you why. If additional information is requested from you, you will be given a deadline for supplying it and the insurance company will have 30 days from the date it receives the information from you, or from the deadline if you do not supply the information in time, to make its decision.
Then, the plan administrator can still make one more 30 day extension, as long as you are notified before the first extension runs out.
For there to be more than two extensions, you must give your consent.
If you or someone you love has been denied long term disability benefits, or if the insurance company is dragging its feet on your claim, please call long term disability appeals attorney Fred J. Fleming toll free at 1-800-882-5500 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation right away.