Lincoln Financial Group offers a variety of different types of long-term disability plans, including employer and employee-paid long-term coverage. Both total and partial disabilities can be covered, and policies offer flexibility in coverage choices.
Unfortunately, when a policyholder actually must make a claim, Lincoln Financial may not provide the advocacy and support that covered workers are looking for. In fact, many people have faced improper claim denials and had to fight Lincoln Financial to get the money they deserved.
If you believe that Lincoln Financial improperly denied your claim, reach out ASAP to get Julie A. Rice Law to review your case and determine if we can help you. We’ve represented many clients who Lincoln Financial treated unfairly, often with great success during either the internal appeals process or in court.
To find out more about how an Atlanta long-term disability lawyer at Julie A. Rice Law can help you, give us a call today.
What happens after Lincoln Financial denies your long-term disability claim?
When Lincoln Financial denies your disability claim, you will receive notification that they denied your claim, as well as details on your rights to appeal.
Since Lincoln Financial long-term disability plans are typically offered by employers, ERISA usually governs these plans. This means you must follow ERISA regulations, which require you to complete multiple internal appeals before you can pursue a remedy in court.
You should submit your appeal letter as well as required documentation to Lincoln Financial by the appeals deadline to avoid missing the opportunity to fight for your benefits.
Be sure to include all of the evidence you need to demonstrate you have a covered disability. This will maximize your chances of a successful appeal, and is also critical because you cannot generally present evidence in court that was not provided to Lincoln Financial during the initial claim process or internal appeals process.
If Lincoln Financial does not award you benefits after the internal appeals process, you may be able to pursue a federal court claim. You’ll have to demonstrate that the insurer failed to act reasonably in denying your long-term disability benefits on the basis of your disabling condition and based on your policy language.
Do you need an attorney to appeal a Lincoln Financial long-term disability denial?
Responding to a benefits denial from Lincoln Financial can be complicated, as you need to understand the insurer’s rules and regulations for when you have a covered disability and ensure you provide the required proof the company needs to approve your claim. You also need to understand how the ERISA claims process works in order to protect your rights.
Julie A. Rice Law is here to help. We have successfully represented many clients who had their long-term disability claims denied by Lincoln Financial, and we have navigated both the internal appeals process and the process of pursuing a federal court case under ERISA.
We’ll make sure you comply with deadlines, provide the evidence you need, and take the steps necessary to preserve your claim. To find out more about how we can help you, give us a call today.