Long-Term Disability Claims for Doctors

You might think it would be easier for physicians, dentists, and other medical professionals to get their long-term disability claims approved. But you’d be wrong. These claims are complex, and often unfairly denied. If you need help, call BenGlassLaw today.

When you can’t care for your patients anymore, who will care for you?

Being a healthcare professional is hard work. You stand, walk, and bend all day. You need to be sharp mentally and emotionally, especially if you’re making critical treatment decisions for patients. You need steady hands.

It’s no surprise that so many doctors eventually need to go on disability. Any condition that affects your cognitive ability, energy level, vision, or manual dexterity could make it impossible to provide safe care to your patients.

But far too often, doctors are in for a rude surprise after filing their disability claim with the insurance company. Heard any of these?

  • Your job is sedentary, so you aren’t disabled.
  • Your cognition is testing in the “average” range, so you can still do your job.
  • You can still do some clinical work or practice administration, so your “own occupation” policy doesn’t apply.
  • You were diagnosed a long time ago. Nothing has changed.

If your claim has been unfairly denied for any of these reasons—or any other, for that matter—you need the help of a long-term disability lawyer that specializes in helping high earners receive the benefits they deserve. In other words, you need BenGlassLaw.

Want to listen to a few of Ben’s arguments in the Federal Courts of Appeals? Use this link and scroll down the page when you get there:

[Audio Recording] Ben Glass Appears Before Federal Courts of Appeal To Argue Long-Term Disability Claims

And don’t forget about our YouTube Channel!

Be sure to visit the BenGlassLaw Long Term Disability Channel on YouTube.

Why work with our long-term disability lawyers?

BenGlassLaw fights for disabled medical professionals and their families across the nation. What makes us unique?

Experience

We handle more long-term disability claims than any other firm in the region, and regularly work with doctors and other educated, highly compensated professionals.

Leadership

Our work in disability law is recognized and respected across the nation. Disability attorneys come to us to learn our techniques and processes.

Ongoing Support

Once we get you back on claim, we’ll handle the insurance company going forward, for as long as you receive LTD benefits. Let us worry about getting medical bills approved.

Client testimonial

After fighting with the insurance company and receiving the denials, we were blessed to be referred to Ben Glass Law firm to help with the long term disability (LTD) insurance denial appeal. I would have never thought of looking out of state for an attorney, but so happy we found them. The entire team is very knowledgeable, professional, and excellent communicators. The communication about the claims and the processes were handled promptly and professionally via telephone and e-mail. They were able to win the appeals process and get the LTD insurance that was owed. They kept in contact with us even step of the process. If we had a question or a problem, they addressed it promptly. TOP NOTCH TEAM!!!

Samantha Oshel

Everyone I have spoken to has been a huge help for me. The staff is kind and professional. If I had a question, I would send an email that was responded to the same day! Mary was great and my main contact. She is very detailed and always helpful to answer my many questions. It is rare to find people that care about my problems. I would recommend Mary and Ben to anyone that needs their services!

C. A Guess Guess

Unfortunately i accidentally looked up the wrong law firm. Fortunately, I was met with a caring, kind, informative staff at Ben Glass Law. They were to helpful and referred me to a lawyer that might be able to answer the questions I have. I am so fortunate to have stumbled across Ben glass law. Not every law firm would be so considerate, informative, and helpful.

Thank you so much for your help Ben Glass Law Firm! It was a pleasure!

William Sarkis

My experience with Ben Glass Law was excellent, especially with Jennifer. She was so helpful and made me feel at ease during our conversation. We need more people like Jennifer and Ben Glass Law.

Princess Crump

I recently found myself in need of a lawyer to help me handle some issues with a long term disability insurance provider. Ben Glass Law has been the best resource I could have ever asked for. Jennifer worked with me to ensure that I got all of the information together and Olivia has kept me informed and helped me understand when I had questions regarding how the process worked. Ben made the time to fully understand all of the information and is working to ensure I have the best possible information as I work through all of my issues. The communication of this team is amazing. I have never met a more professional team.

James Morris

I would like to once again thank Tammy Hineline and Lisa Derco for their patience and expertise when working on an auto injury case for me. They both went above and beyond when even after my case was closed, I called to get some guidance on how to handle an invoice that came in after the fact. They were great and worked with the doctor’s office to get this resolved quickly. They never once complained or said they wouldn’t help me. Ben Glass Law will always be my first call if I need any legal assistance in the future.

Thanks, Tammy and Lisa!

Joanne Stevenson

Joanne Stevenson

Available 24/7

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Long-term disability case results

Since 1995, BenGlassLaw has been helping sick, injured, and disabled physicians and medical professionals fight unfair claim denials, get the benefits they paid for, and get their lives back on track. Here are just a few of our big wins for long-term disability claimants:

$3 Million

Long-Term Disability

High earning salesperson with “stiff person syndrome” awarded $10,000 a month in disability benefits

$1.4 Million

Long-Term Disability

After being injured in a car accident, a software engineer is awarded disability benefits on appeal after getting denied by the insurance company.

$1.3 Million

Long-Term Disability

Fairfax County Special Education Teacher Now Eligible to Collect Nearly $1.3 Million in Disability Benefits Following Successful Long Term Disability Appeal

$1.2 Million

Long-Term Disability

Sometimes the coolest companies to work for don’t always have the coolest benefit plans.

$1 Million

Long-Term Disability

We fought for our client against an insurance company that ignored facts and terminated benefits on a very minuscule review.

$986,000

Long-Term Disability

A public school teacher was diagnosed with chronic lyme disease. Short term disability claim was denied when insurance company said she was misdiagnosed.

Long-term disability for physicians: frequently asked questions

Long-term disability claims for healthcare professionals are almost always complex and confusing, unless you handle these types of claims regularly. While there’s no substitute for a paid consultation with a long-term disability attorney, we hope the following FAQs help you better understand your situation and what steps you need to take next.

Should I talk to a disability attorney before filing my claim?

We always urge those who are filing a long-term disability claim to consult with us first. The insurance company hopes that you do not understand their process.

How can BenGlassLaw help right now?

That depends on your situation. 

If you haven’t filed for long-term disability yet, we strongly recommend you schedule a paid consultation with us first. Our team works with medical professionals all the time. We understand that unique challenges doctors face when trying to get claims approved, and the tactics insurance companies use to deny valid claims. We’ll review your policy and talk with you in depth about your condition and your job responsibilities. By the time the appointment is over, you’ll have a strong plan of action for your next steps. 

If your claim has recently been denied, email, fax, or mail a copy of your denial letter to our team now. We offer a zero-obligation review of your denial letter and give you a detailed strategy for moving forward. But you must act promptly—the insurance company only gives you a limited time to appeal, or their decision is permanent. 

After your free denial letter review, if more information is needed, our paid consultation is also a resourceful next step. We’ll answer any additional questions you may have and take a detailed look into your insurance policy. If you hire us at any point to do additional work on your claim, we will credit the appeal fee to the fee for future work. Often, this strategy call is all our clients need to resolve their cases. 

If you’re on claim but have questions, you can schedule a short, free review call with a non-attorney disability specialist or a paid consultation with Ben Glass, depending on your needs. We once got a doctor $500,000 in past-due benefits after just one paid consultation—you can read that story above. 

Why choose BenGlassLaw?

Plenty of reasons: 

  • We file more disability appeals and lawsuits than any other firm in the Mid-Atlantic. (Source: Pacer, the official government site for Federal Court lawsuits.) 
  • We have extensive experience handling difficult claims for doctors, lawyers, business owners, and other highly compensated, highly educated professionals with complex work responsibilities. We know our way around “own occupation,” “own specialty,” and other policies, riders, and language common to both employer-provided and individually purchased disability insurance plans for physicians. 
  • We stay with you for the life of the claim, not just through the appeal process. We’ll continue to manage your benefits and deal with the insurance company so you don’t have to. We currently manage more than $33 million in future disability benefits for our clients. 
  • We only get paid if we win. There’s no risk to you. 
  • Ben Glass has taught attorneys all over the country about ERISA processes and education. He is a subject matter expert in the industry. 
  • Our reviews speak for themselves. 

What are some unique challenges healthcare professionals face when filing for long-term disability benefits?

There are several. 

One of the biggest ones is that LTD companies frequently mischaracterize the work physicians do. They may simply assert that your condition doesn’t impair your occupational duties, even when it clearly does. Or, if your disability prevents you from some key duties of your job (for example, performing surgery) but you’re still able to do some clinical or administrative work, the disability company might try to deny or reduce your benefits—even if you have “own specialty” coverage. 

Another common complication is that physicians suffer from high rates of burnout, anxiety, chronic pain, and other mental, cognitive, and degenerative conditions. While these conditions may make it impossible to provide safe care to your patients, they can be difficult to prove, and may be subject to policy exclusions. 

Finally, there’s the good old-fashioned incentive all insurance companies have to protect their bottom line. Paying out claims for highly paid professionals like doctors is expensive. If they can find a “good enough” excuse to avoid doing it, they will. 

What documents will I have to provide?

In addition to providing medical records, physician letters, and other evidence that supports your diagnosis and symptoms, you will also need to provide documents that: 

  • Demonstrate your income 
  • Outline the procedures, treatments, and other care you provided (in other words, the “substantial duties” of your occupation) 
  • Provide a rationale for why your condition prevents you from performing those duties 

This is standard stuff for any long-term disability claim regardless of occupation. That said, if you’re a doctor, the insurance company will probably want to dig deeper and see what you’re actually billing for. You may be asked to provide: 

  • Individual and business tax returns 
  • Two years of pay stubs, profit and loss statements, pension and profit-sharing contributions, etc. 
  • Two years of monthly production reports 
  • Purchase and sale agreements 

It can be a truly massive undertaking to compile all the necessary paperwork the insurance company will need. And the cost of forgetting key evidence can be devastating. If you still have anything left out of your case file when you file your administrative appeal, you may not be able to add it later—even in a lawsuit. 

It’s no surprise that even highly educated doctors make mistakes when attempting to handle their claims on their own! In fact, the insurance company is counting on it. Talk with a long-term disability attorney as soon as possible to take the weight and stress of your shoulders and ensure your claim is in good hands. 

Can I still get long-term disability benefits if I work part time or change jobs?

That depends on the specifics of your policy, but the answer for most doctors is yes. 

For example, let’s say you can no longer practice in your primary field of specialty, but can still work reduced hours or in a reduced capacity at a lower salary. If you have a residual or partial disability rider, you probably can still collect partial disability benefits as long as your income has been reduced by at least 20%. 

But again, insurance companies like to mischaracterize your actual job functions at the time you file. This is particularly relevant for doctors who suffer from degenerative conditions and have had to gradually change their occupational duties over time. Your insurance company might try to argue that your “reduced” role is your “real” role at the time you file, so you are not entitled to any residual benefits based on the higher salary level. 

This is another reason why it’s good to speak with an experienced disability attorney as soon as possible—ideally before you file.