Mutual of Omaha

Many employers offer their workers the option to select disability insurance from Mutual of Omaha as a part of their benefits packages. This type of coverage offers employees who are disabled because of an illness or injury benefits to replace a portion of their prior income for as long as they are unable to return to their jobs. Many disabled workers are shocked when Mutual of Omaha denies their initial disability claims. If this happens to you, the professional disability team at The Law Office of Andrew Reichardt might be able to help you with your appeal.

BACKGROUND ON MUTUAL OF OMAHA

Founded in 1909 and headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, Mutual of Omaha is a Fortune 500 company that offers a broad suite of insurance products. The company sells life insurance, Medicare supplement insurance, retirement and annuity plans, dental and health insurance, disability insurance and other products. Mutual of Omaha employs nearly 5,000 people and had an annual revenue of $7.9 billion in 2016.

DISABILITY INSURANCE FROM MUTUAL OF OMAHA

Mutual of Omaha offers both group and individual disability insurance plans. The group plans are available through participating employers and include short-term disability, long-term disability or both. Workers sign up for disability insurance through their employers and pay their premiums by payroll deductions from their checks. Individuals who choose to purchase individual disability policies other than through their employers can have portable policies that can remain in effect even when they change jobs.

Many workers choose to purchase both short- and long-term disability coverage. Before the short-term benefits will begin, the workers must first be disabled for longer than the elimination periods. The short-term elimination period is much shorter than the long-term elimination period. When workers have both types, they may exhaust their short-term benefits with their long-term benefits kicking in once those short-term benefits have ended.

APPEALING A DENIAL FROM MUTUAL OF OMAHA

Mutual of Omaha has a financial interest in minimizing its losses, so it routinely denies initial disability claims. It will notify you of its denial decision in a letter. This notice will tell you why the company made its denial decision and give you information about how to appeal and the deadline for appealing. If you receive this letter, contact the company immediately and request a copy of your claim file. It will have the evidence that Mutual of Omaha used to deny your claim. Keep your communication with the company in writing, and keep copies of the correspondence that you send and receive. Don’t fail to meet the appeals deadline or you will be prevented from ever recovering the disability benefits that you might otherwise recover for your disability.

Bring your letter, your claim file and any correspondence with Mutual of Omaha with you to your appointment with Andrew Reichardt. Andrew will review the information and offer you a legal opinion about the approach that you should take. He may ask you to help him with your claim by keeping your medical appointments, continuing to see your doctor, completing all follow-up appointments and recommendations, submitting to additional tests and exams and securing written statements about your condition from your former employer, and medical professionals. The guidance provided to you by Andrew will strengthen your claim by adding as much favorable evidence to your file as possible. This may help you to win your appeal while it is still with Mutual of Omaha rather than later having to sue the company after exhausting your internal appeals. To learn more about your potential recovery rights, schedule a consultation with The Law Office of Andrew Reichardt today.