Understanding how your insurance policy defines disability is crucial when filing a long-term disability claim. This definition often forms the basis of your claim’s evaluation and can significantly influence the outcome. Review critical factors, such as the inability to do your current job, and if the definition considers whether you can work in other jobs.
At Marc Whitehead & Associates, trust a skilled attorney from our team to provide detailed long-term disability application assistance. We have clients from around the country. Schedule a free consultation today.
Review Your Policy and Requirements
Your lawyer can analyze your long-term disability policy’s provisions, limitations, and specific requirements. They will focus on the criteria you must meet to prove your disability. This helps to prioritize the records you need from healthcare professionals.
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Establish a Paper Trail of Medical Evidence
Comprehensive medical records serve as solid evidence for proving your long-term disability claim. They provide a consistent, documented history of your condition, demonstrating its severity and impact on your ability to work. Gathering and organizing your medical documentation is essential.
Here are some steps you should follow when establishing your paper trail:
- Doctor’s Reports: Obtain comprehensive reports from all healthcare providers you’ve consulted, such as primary physicians, therapists, and specialists. These reports should detail your diagnosis, symptoms, and the impact on your daily activities, including your ability to work.
- Diagnostic Tests: Collect all results from diagnostic tests such as MRI scans, X-rays, blood tests, and all other procedures you’ve undergone. These substantiate the existence and severity of your condition.
- Treatment Plans: Ensure you have records of all treatments prescribed and their effects on your condition. This includes medications, rehabilitation, and surgeries.
- Specialist Opinions: If your doctor refers you to specialists, get their written opinions about your condition and its severity. Specialists vary based on your condition and could include neurologists, orthopedic surgeons, and rheumatologists.
- Organize Your Documents: Organize all these documents chronologically, starting from the most recent. This helps to present a clear and logical sequence of the progression of your condition.
- Make Copies: Always keep copies of your records and ensure they are safely stored. They are crucial for any possible appeals or policy renewals.
Consult with Specialists and Healthcare Providers
Collaborating with specialists and healthcare providers can provide expert opinions on your condition. Their insights into your health offer an authoritative voice to strengthen your long-term disability claim. They provide objective medical evidence, such as laboratory results, imaging studies, and clinical findings.
Detailed medical narratives and functional assessments from healthcare professionals are invaluable tools in proving your long-term disability. Additional tests and diagnostics can further substantiate your claim.
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Keep a Symptom and Activity Journal
Maintaining a regular symptom and activity journal can offer invaluable insights into the progression of your condition and its effects on your life and your ability to work. These firsthand accounts are important because they highlight the overall impact of your disability and its limitations.
Here are some tips on maintaining a detailed journal:
- Note your symptoms daily, including physical pain, mental fatigue, and other issues that could influence your work capabilities.
- Keep an accurate account of daily activities and note any difficulties you experience in completing these activities due to your condition.
- Track your pain levels throughout the day and note how they affect your life.
- Take note of other related issues, such as stress, depression, or anxiety due to living with a long-term disability.
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Organize and Submit Your Evidence
As noted above, store your medical records and journal entries in an organized fashion. It simplifies reviewing and submitting the evidence and the appropriate claim forms to the insurance provider.
Use these best practices to stay organized:
- Ensure all records are complete and legible, and double-check them for accuracy.
- Store documents securely in digital and physical form.
- Use secure cloud storage platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox to ensure you can access records from anywhere if needed.
- Label each document appropriately so they are easy to locate and understand.
- Keep a master list or spreadsheet of all your records, categorizing them into tabs for each healthcare provider.
Contact Marc Whitehead & Associates to Help You Prove Your Long-Term Disability
Securing legal representation can significantly increase your chances of a successful claim. An experienced lawyer for long-term disability from our team at Marc Whitehead & Associates can help you. We can ensure your claim is accurately prepared and backed by medical and legal evidence.
We understand the complexities of this process. We could guide you through each step while protecting your rights. Our team serves as your advocate, skillfully negotiating on your behalf for the best chance of approval. Contact Marc Whitehead & Associates to schedule a free consultation.
Call or text 800-562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form