You need a Mutual of Omaha disability denial attorney, if your disability claim has been denied. Having your claimed denied by an carrier is far more common than you may think. Insurance carriers often deny legitimate claims because they want to minimize payouts and maximize their profits. At Marc Whitehead & Associates, a Mutual of Omaha disability claims attorney is ready to go to bat for you and guide you through the appeals process.
Mutual of Omaha Long-Term Disability Denial
An estimated one-quarter of all individuals over the age of 20 will suffer a disability before reaching retirement age, according to the U.S. Social Security Administration. In addition to Social Security disability benefits, long-term disability insurance from Mutual of Omaha and other private insurers is meant to replace lost income when you are unable to earn a living due to a disability.
For long-term disability insurance policies, Mutual of Omaha typically provides either total disability income or proportionate disability insurance benefits. The extent of the disability determines the package for which a claimant qualifies. Proportionate benefits depend on whether a person is able to work, and at how much of a diminished capacity, while total income benefits are based on a claimant’s inability to work in any capacity.
Unfortunately, Mutual of Omaha, like other insurers, is known to deny legitimate claims for disability benefits. The company did not earn $766.8 million in net income in 2020 by paying every disability claim made by its policyholders. Between 2010 and 2019, just 21 percent of disabled-worker applicants were awarded benefits on their initial claims, according to the Social Security Administration.
Claimants need to understand that if Mutual of Omaha denies their initial application for long-term disability benefits, that is rarely, if ever, the final response to their claims.
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Why Does Mutual of Omaha Deny Claims for Long-Term Disability Benefits?
Denial of claims by insurance companies like Mutual of Omaha has a long history and occurs for reasons that include:
• Incomplete or inadequate information on a disability claim form
• The claimed disability is linked to a medical condition that existed before the coverage date of the disability insurance policy
• The disability is not covered by the terms of the insurance policy, or the claimant’s medical exam did not sufficiently validate the disability
• The disability arose from an elective medical procedure rather than from an accident or illness
Mutual of Omaha’s denial of a disability claim may sometimes be justified, but in many other cases, it can be appealed or an application for benefits can be resubmitted with a more conclusive explanation of how a disability is preventing a claimant from performing his or her regular duties at work.
The Difference Between Short-Term Disability and Long-Term Disability
While short-term disability benefits typically cover periods of less than a year, long-term disability benefits can provide income for many years. The denial of a Mutual of Omaha long-term disability claim can be overwhelming, preventing a claimant from receiving benefits that would be used to cover mortgage payments and other recurring essential living expenses. Claims for long-term benefits often are more closely scrutinized because, if approved, they will obligate Mutual of Omaha to pay much larger sums of money over many years.
Long-Haul Covid will Likely Increase Disability Claims and Denials
Long-haul Covid has joined a handful of other conditions such as chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia and irritable bower syndrome that often cannot be confirmed through diagnostic imaging, blood tests or MRIs. In the U.S., doctors estimate that among the 80 million people infected by Covid there are 750,000 to 1.3 million or more Americans who are too sick with long-term effects to return to their jobs.
This will likely not only increase long-term disability claims but also result in a higher percentage of denials by Mutual of Omaha and other private insurers due to a range of symptoms, including brain fog, heart palpitations and easy exhaustion, that are hard to verify through basic medical tests. Claimants are sure to face denials of benefits due to the difficulty of proving these symptoms are severe enough to seriously impede or prevent their ability to work.
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Consult an Experienced Mutual of Omaha Disability Denial Attorney
If you receive a long-term disability claim denial letter from Mutual of Omaha, you have 180 days to file an appeal, and Marc Whitehead & Associates can help. Most denial letters outline the reasons a claim was rejected and include a list of documents, medical examinations, and materials that a claimant must submit to overturn the denial. If you are confused by the reasons in the denial letter, contact one of our experienced disability benefits attorneys to help appeal your claim.
Since 1992, Marc Whitehead & Associates has fought for individuals whose benefits under private long-term disability insurance policies have been wrongfully denied. From our Houston headquarters and other offices across Texas, our lawyers assist disability claimants from all 50 states to appeal their denials by Mutual of Omaha and other private insurance providers. If your disability benefits have been denied, we can help you file a strong and effective appeal, negotiate a settlement or litigate your case in court.
Call or text 800-562-9830 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form