If you work at a company that offers disability insurance as a voluntary option through The Hartford, choosing the coverage may offer you peace of mind if you suffer from a disability that prevents you from returning to your job either temporarily or permanently. Disability insurance is designed to replace a percentage of your previous income for the period that is noted in your policy. Unfortunately, Hartford routinely denies many initial disability claims, leaving disabled workers struggling with what to do. The professional disability team at The Law Office of Andrew Reichardt represents clients in their appeals of their denials from Hartford.
BACKGROUND ON THE HARTFORD
Founded in 1810 and headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, The Hartford Financial Services Group is an insurance and investment company that is a member of the Fortune 500 list. The company employs more than 17,500 employees and offers a broad variety of products, including mutual funds, property and casualty insurance products and others.
DISABILITY INSURANCE FROM THE HARTFORD
The Hartford sells several different disability insurance products, including both long-term and short-term disability benefits. The company’s short-term disability policies provide disability benefits for up to 52 weeks following the exhaustion of an elimination period. Long-term disability insurance from The Hartford offers coverage for longer periods, depending on the policy that you select. The benefits replace up to 67 percent of your former income on an ongoing basis until your policy’s term ends or until you return to your job. Many employees choose both types of coverage so that they receive benefits much sooner after they have been disabled.
APPEALING A DENIAL FROM THE HARTFORD
The Hartford notifies claimants whose claims are denied by sending them notices in the mail. If you receive a letter notifying you that your claim was denied, you should review your letter carefully. It will tell you the reasons that the company has used to deny your claim. It will also outline how you can appeal its decision and provide a deadline for filing your appeal. This information is very important for appealing The Hartford’s denial decision before you will be able to sue the company in court. If you miss the deadline, you will not be able to recover the benefits to which you might otherwise be entitled.
After you receive a denial, call the company and request that it sends you a copy of your claim file. The Law Office of Andrew Reichardt can review your information and advise you about the approach to take. We may want you to secure written statements from your doctor, former employer or others who are familiar with how your condition limits your functional ability. We may also ask that you submit to additional tests or exams. The purpose of these steps is to help you to build more favorable evidence that supports the basis for your claim in your file. This may make it more likely that your appeal will succeed internally without having to go to court. If you are forced to file a lawsuit, you will only be able to use the evidence that is contained in your file, which makes it even more important for you to make certain that it contains as much favorable evidence to you as possible. To learn more about your rights, contact The Law Office of Andrew Reichardt, today to schedule your consultation.