Long Term Disability Law Blog
There’s no such thing as a guaranteed disability benefit – an initial approval doesn’t mean you’ll receive disability benefits through the end of the policy term. Guardian Disability long term disability benefits are no exception. If you’ve recently received an approval letter from Guardian Disability, don’t let yourself become complacent. Learn more about how your disability insurance benefits (and the requirements you’ll need to meet to continue receiving benefits) may change over time.
Why Guardian Disability Benefit Approvals Don’t Last Forever
A claimant’s initial approval may be based on a standard that allows for benefits if the claimant can no longer perform their regular job. After a couple of years, this standard may tighten to allow benefits only if the claimant can’t perform any job they’re otherwise qualified to do. To maintain your disability benefits once this definition shifts, you’ll need to provide medical evidence to support your claim that you’re no longer able to work.
Guardian Disability also doesn’t care if your physician is too busy or scattered to fill out the required claim forms. If your doctor is unwilling or unable to complete Guardian’s forms, it may be worth switching to a more accommodating medical provider early in the process.
Don’t Rely on Surgeons to Support Your Guardian Benefit Claim
Surgeons don’t generally schedule regular patient appointments like other doctors – instead, they usually see patients before and after a scheduled surgery. Relying on a surgeon as your primary medical specialist for a long term disability claim can ultimately leave you with a thin medical folder that doesn’t support your continued receipt of disability benefits.
Instead, it’s better to seek out a specialist in your condition (or, if you have multiple comorbidities, your “main” condition – an endocrinologist for diabetes, an orthopedist for joint or spine problems, or a cardiologist for heart issues). Not only are specialists and primary care physicians more likely to accommodate regular appointments, but they also are usually more receptive to the multiple claim forms and physician statements they’ll need to complete over the course of a long term disability claim.
How Often Guardian Claimants Should Seek Medical Treatment
The answer to how often a particular claimant should seek medical treatment largely depends on their unique circumstances. However, because disability benefits are distributed on a month-to-month basis, it’s usually a good idea for a claimant’s most recent medical documentation to be less than a month old. By tracking your condition month to month, it will be easier for your physicians (and Guardian Disability) to see the progression over time.
Remember that Guardian Disability is Watching
One of the easiest ways for Guardian Disability to deny a claim is simply by monitoring a claimant’s social media accounts. An Instagram photo of a claimant’s run time or a tweet about a cross-country trip may conflict with the information included on the initial claim form, and these minor discrepancies can provide Guardian Disability with a reason to stop a claimant’s receipt of disability benefits. Claimants should review their privacy settings to ensure only friends can access their social media posts and should remain cautious of what they allow others to post about them.
Remaining vigilant even after one’s claim for long term disability benefits has been approved can be exhausting. Dell & Schaefer can help. Let our experienced disability insurance attorneys do the heavy lifting to ensure your disability file passes Guardian Disability’s muster – give us a call to set up your FREE consultation.