Dentists with disability insurance expect that, should they become disabled, their policies will provide the largest portion of their former income.
Although purchasing professional disability insurance is a critical first step in protecting your family and dental practice, collecting maximum benefits under your policy can be another matter. If your insurance company has wrongly denied your disability claim, you may be the victim of bad faith insurance.
It is vital that you receive the full disability benefits you deserve. Our law firm represents dental professionals in all aspects of disability insurance claims and cases.
If you have questions about your claim, we urge you to contact us without delay.
What Issues are Specific to Dentist Disability Insurance Claim Denial?
Disability can happen to anyone. However, due to the physical nature of a dentist’s job, all fields of dentistry are predisposed to certain musculoskeletal and neurological medical conditions.
Dentists and dental surgeons must use their hands and bend over patients all day. They assume awkward postures, with hands and arms held out away from their bodies while performing constant, repetitive motions. A dentist’s hands must maintain a strong grip on vibrating instruments or perform precision tasks with chisels, elevators, files and retractors while maintaining prolonged, fixed postures.
General dentists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, orthodontists, periodontists, endodontists, prosthodontists – all are prone to a multitude of injuries, both minor and major, that can keep them from working at their profession and specialty.
After years of dentistry, disorders of the neck, upper and lower back, spine and hips are common. Such conditions include spinal disc degeneration, herniated disc, and chronic pain. Repetitive wrist and hand flexing motions over long periods of time often lead to arm, hand and finger dexterity impairments, such as carpal tunnel syndrome, tremors and arthritis.
Trend of Dentist Disability Insurance Claim Denied
When you bought your insurance policy, you dealt with a helpful sales rep. Now that you are filing a disability claim on that policy, dealing with the insurance company’s claims examiner is a difference experience.
The insurance industry’s trend seems to be to deny dentist disability insurance claims – often directing claims towards denial or termination of benefits.
Many dentists are shocked to find that a diagnosis of a medical impairment – even with supporting test results and statements from their doctors confirming disability – are not considered sufficient proof of claim.
They never thought the insurance company would use in-house doctors to reassess their condition, or use video surveillance to discredit their claim. Nor did they expect the disability claim examiner to manipulate legitimate information for the purpose of denying their claim, or drastically limiting the benefit payout.
Insurance companies have diverse and resourceful tactics aimed to deny insurance benefits.
Even under an own occupation rider, many dentist’s disability insurance claims are denied. Insurers find ways to claim that you can still perform the duties of your own occupation. Or, although you have never “changed” your occupation of dentistry, they will reclassify your practice to say you were also an administrator or other classification.
You can fight back when your insurer unfairly says no.
When a claim is inappropriately denied, it is important to deal with the denial immediately.
Our doctor disability claim lawyers can prepare a comprehensive appeal of your LTD claim denial.
When a dentist disability insurance claim is denied, our doctor disability claim denial attorneys will take all essential steps to load the record and prove to the insurance company (and the court) you are disabled.
- We review the language and terms of the policy to assess the merits of your claim and develop our strategy for appeal. How are your duties as a “dentist” defined in the policy? How does the policy define “total disability?” Will you be considered “partially disabled” by the insurer? Many insurers issue intentionally confusing dentist’s disability insurance.
- We know how your insurance carrier handles claims and are prepared to refute any possible methods of unreasonable denial it may attempt.
- We build your appeal to contain definitive evidence to prove you are disabled. This involves gathering and submitting complete, updated medical records and exhaustive claim forms; showing proof of earnings and the status of your dental practice.
- We support your claim through additional vocational expert and medical expert opinions, conduct a functional capacity exam or other testing, and file a legal brief arguing the medical, occupational and legal issues in your case. And we do much more.
Attorneys Representing Disabled Dentists Nationwide
If your disability insurer failed to live up to the terms of your policy and wrongly denied benefits, you need strong, experienced representation to appeal. We deal with the major disability insurance companies every day.
To request a free case evaluation and learn what options are available to you after a dentist disability insurance claim denial, call 800-562-9830 and get the effective assistance you need.