MassMutual Long-Term Disability Denial

When you purchase disability insurance, you expect coverage in the event an accident or an illness prevents you from working. Unfortunately, insurance companies like MassMutual employ a variety of tactics to collect premiums and avoid paying disability benefits. Unfair practices to delay payments or avoid paying claims are all too common. If you received a MassMutual long-term disability denial, you have the right to appeal the decision. 

How Do MassMutual Policies Work?

MassMutual is a Fortune 500 company that sells a variety of insurance products. including life insurance, long-term care, and disability insurance. Like most disability insurance companies, MassMutual’s disability policies are designed to pay a portion of your salary if you are disabled, usually between 45 and 60 percent. The length of time benefits are paid, or the benefit period depends on your individual policy as does the elimination or waiting period before benefits begin. If you receive disability insurance through your employer, they will choose the waiting period for short-term benefits which is usually between 30 and 90 days.

The waiting period to collect long-term disability benefits is longer than the period for short-term benefits. If you file a claim with MassMutual, you may have to wait between 30 and 365 days depending on your policy. It’s crucial that you read your insurance policy to determine the elimination periods for your disability policies. The policy will also tell you how MassMutual defines disability, and if any conditions are considered pre-existing conditions.

Unfair Practices Common to Insurance Companies

Insurance companies are required to provide you with complete information about the application process, answer your questions, and make decisions in a timely manner. However, that is not always the case.

Here are just a few of the unfair tactics insurance companies like MassMutual may use to delay or deny your long-term disability benefits:

• Ask you to undergo an independent medical exam (IME) by an independent doctor, but the doctor may be a regular physician who works with or for MassMutual.
• May intentionally classify a complicated physical disorder as a mental illness which would significantly reduce the amount of time you can collect disability benefits.
• Make repeated requests for documents you have already submitted by claiming they were lost or never received. Keep copies of everything you submit and a record of when and how you provided the information.
• You have the right to receive a decision from MassMutual in a reasonable amount of time. However, the company may repeatedly delay giving you an answer.
• It is possible that MassMutual’s claims managers may question your credibility and the validity of your claim documentation.

Why do insurance companies use these tactics? They hope you’ll give up trying to get long-term disability benefits if the claim process is difficult. 

What Can You Do If You Receive a MassMutual Long-Term Disability Denial?

Read all correspondence from MassMutual thoroughly. If there is anything you find confusing, ask questions. They are required to provide explanations. Also, take the following steps:

• Be sure your medical records are complete and up-to-date.
• Keep copies of everything you send to the insurance company.
• File all documentation on time. The insurance company may use a missed deadline(s) as a reason to deny your claim.
• If you believe MassMutual is using unfair tactics to delay or deny your claim, speak to an experienced Ocala long-term disability attorney.

Filing a Long-Term Disability Claim With MassMutual

Filing a long-term disability claim with MassMutual or any insurance company can be a confusing process. You should have received complete information about how to file a long-term disability claim. Take your time and read all the information carefully. Most importantly, note the deadlines for filing documentation.

Review written reports with your physician and other health care professionals you have seen to ensure accuracy and point out any omissions. It’s important to include all information that will help you prove your eligibility for long-term disability benefits.

Before you send in your disability claim, reread it. Check to see that there are no blank spaces or missing information. Don’t provide the insurance company with a reason to send back or reject your disability claim.

You can file your claim by mail or by email. A claims agent from MassMutual should contact you within a reasonable amount of time.

Appealing a MassMutual Long-Term Disability Denial

At CJ Henry Law Firm PLLC, we can review your disability claim and help you appeal a MassMutual long-term disability denial. To learn more about how we can help, contact us today.