Very few attorneys know how to advise people who are applying for or are denied benefits under their private long term disability insurance policies. The best time to call an attorney is before you leave work because of disability. Under all circumstances have your doctor recommend that you stop working. Make sure your doctor understands what symptoms you have as a result of their diagnosis that prevents you from working.

Your policy may provide benefits if you are unable to do your own occupation, but many also switch after about 24 months to require that you be unable to do any occupation. In addition many policies will only provide benefits for 24 months if your disability is caused by or contributed to by a mental health condition.

Pre-exisiting conditions often can provide an excuse to deny benefits, particularly if you have not been covered under the policy for at least a year or more.

If your LTD insurer denies your benefits or tells you they plan to deny your benefits, then you should contact an attorney experienced in handling these cases. Most frequent inquiries come about UNUM, Standard, ITT Hartford, Paul Revere, CNA, Provident.

There is no charge for telephone inquiries. In office consultations or more extensive consultations by email, fax, or phone can be arranged at our hourly rate, as of 1/1/2000, $400/hour. Cases involving denied benefits are handled on a contingency basis. All initial inquiries are handled for free.