If you receive Long Term Disability (LTD) insurance benefits, you need to know whether the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) says those are taxable benefits. The tax treatment of LTD benefits can be based on who paid the premiums and whether the premiums were paid with pre-tax dollars or after–tax dollars. At Marc Whitehead & Associates, …
Category: Long Term Disability
The 24-Month Mental Health Limitation in Long-Term Disability Policies
What Does a Mental Health Cap Do to Your Disability Benefits? Most group long-term disability policies pay benefits for mental health conditions for a limited period, commonly 24 months, while paying for physical conditions until retirement age. Claimants usually learn this when a termination letter arrives at month 24. The cap is a policy term …
How ERISA’s Fiduciary Duty Rules Affect Your Long-Term Disability Appeal
Does the Company Deciding Your Claim Owe You a Legal Duty? Yes. Under federal law, whoever decides your employer-sponsored disability claim is a fiduciary and must act solely in the interest of plan participants. In most group claims that the same party also pays the benefit out of its own money, and courts treat that …
How Long Do You Have to Appeal a Long-Term Disability Denial?
What Is the Deadline to Challenge a Denied Disability Claim? If your coverage came through your job, you generally have at least 180 days from the date you receive the denial to file your internal appeal, and the clock starts with the letter. Policies you bought yourself follow a different and often shorter deadline set …
How to Read Your Long-Term Disability Policy
Your long-term disability policy is a legal contract — and the language inside it will govern every aspect of your claim if you ever need to file one. Most people never read their policy until they are already in a health crisis, scrambling to understand what they are covered for. Reading it now, while you are healthy …
How Long Is a Long-Term Disability vs. a Short-Term Disability?
When people talk about disability insurance, they often use the terms interchangeably — but short-term and long-term disability are distinct products with different rules, different timelines, and very different consequences when a claim gets denied. If you’re navigating a disability that’s keeping you out of work, understanding how these two programs interact is the foundation of protecting your income. The Basic …
Step-by-Step Guide to Appealing an LTD Denial
Receiving an LTD denial is honestly disheartening. You feel stuck at a standstill. What do you do now? If you’re facing a denied disability claim, you’ve landed in the right place. Our six-step guide to appealing an LTD denial will dispel paralysis and confusion. Filing an appeal is your next move, and it’s your best …
Steps to Take After a Long Term Disability Denial in Lake Charles
The steps to take after a Long Term Disability denial in Lake Charles begin with reviewing the denial letter and identifying what the insurance company says is missing. From there, you can start building a stronger appeal. A denial can interrupt your income and make it harder to keep up with bills, treatment, and daily …
How to Appeal a Long Term Disability Claim Denial in Lafayette
Appeal a Long Term Disability (LTD) claim denial in Lafayette, Louisiana, in writing and before the window in which you’re allowed to do so closes. Review your denial letter to find out why your Long Term Disability benefits request was rejected. Next, gather evidence to dispute your claim denial and formally appeal. If your appeal …
How to Get Long-Term Disability (LTD) Benefits for Non-Epileptic Seizures
To get Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits for non-epileptic seizures, you need to build a strong medical record to prove your condition to the insurance company. This is a lot harder than it sounds because insurers routinely deny these claims. They may call your condition unverifiable, question your symptoms, or use other tactics to stop …