Manulife is one in all Canada’s largest insurance firms, offering each group and individual long-term disability (LTD) policies. These policies are designed to assist replace a portion of your income should you are unable to work on account of a serious illness or injury.
Group plans are typically provided by your employer, while individual plans are purchased directly from people resembling freelancers or business owners.
Denial of Long-Term Disability Benefits of Manulife can feel like a punch within the gut, especially should you’re already coping with a serious illness or injury. You have rights and there are clear, strategic steps you possibly can take to fight for the advantages you’ve got been paying a premium for all along.
Why would Manulife deny your claim?
Manulife may deny a claim for a wide range of reasons. The commonest include:
- Insufficient medical evidence: If the medical documentation you submit doesn’t clearly indicate that your medical condition prevents you from working, Manulife may argue that you just don’t meet the factors for disability.
- Missed deadlinesNote: Failure to submit the required forms or documents on time could also be grounds for rejection.
- Independent Medical Examinations (IME): Manulife may ask you to take part in one DO. If your chosen doctor disagrees along with your own doctor’s findings, they may use this as a reason to disclaim your claim.
- Monitoring or social media auditing: Sometimes Manulife will conduct monitoring or check your social media accounts to search for signs that your condition isn’t as serious as you claimed. Even innocuous posts that show you doing things could be misinterpreted.
- Changing the definition of disability: After two years with LTD, Manulife may change the definition of your disability. Instead of just proving that you may’t do your current job, they’ll require proof that you may’t do your current job any Job that matches your skills or experience.
Steps to take after your claim is denied
If your LTD claim has been denied, don’t panic. There are several steps you possibly can take to appeal the choice and fight for the advantages you deserve.
Read the rejection letter fastidiously
Manulife will send you a letter explaining why your claim was denied. Make sure you read it fastidiously. Sometimes the explanations for rejection could be so simple as lack of medical evidence or missing deadlines. In other cases it could be more complex, resembling a dispute over the definition of your disability.
Collect all obligatory documents
One of crucial things you possibly can do is make sure that your whole medical records and other supporting documents are so as.
If Manulife claims you haven’t got enough medical evidence, it is time to contact your doctor again. Ask your doctor for more detailed reports or letters explaining why you can not work.
Appeal the denial
Once you understand the explanation for the denial and gather the obligatory documentation, you possibly can begin the appeal process. Manulife’s process could appear complicated, but it surely’s necessary to maintain track. When appealing, make sure the following:
- Provide additional medical evidence if obligatory.
- Understand how your condition affects your ability to work.
- Respond quickly to all requests from Manulife for further information.
Consult a disability lawyer
If you’re unsure proceed or are facing challenges with the appeals process, it’s a great idea to hunt the assistance of an attorney who focuses on disability claims. Many lawyers offer free consultations, so you possibly can get advice without having to fret about upfront costs.
An attorney can make it easier to understand your rights, review your claim, and guide you thru the legal steps to get your claim approved. They can even make it easier to gather the proper documentation and communicate with Manulife in your behalf.
Don’t ignore employment issues
As you process your LTD claim, you furthermore may need to pay attention to any employment-related issues. For example, you might have concerns about how your employer will handle your position while you’re incapacitated.
Be sure to review your advantages brochure or certificate of insurance to know how your advantages must be handled.
You may additionally need to discuss these concerns with an attorney to make sure that your employer isn’t violating any rules related to your disability advantages.
What to expect through the appeal process
The appeal process for a denied long-term disability claim with Manulife typically takes several weeks to months, depending on the complexity of the case.
During this time, you could be asked to offer additional documentation, medical updates, and even undergo further medical evaluation.
While you wait, keep in mind that you continue to have options for temporary support. Depending in your policy, you could proceed to receive short-term disability advantages or other types of income support.
Make sure you understand the complete extent of your insurance coverage during this era. If you do not understand any a part of your insurance coverage, discover a knowledgeable attorney in your area who can break it down for you.
