The second step is for the insurance company to delay paying the claim. This is easily accomplished by telling the claimant any number of things, from "the claim is still being processed," to "you still haven't provided enough documentation!" This is usually met with "But I sent everything in that I was supposed to!" Ding! Second round goes to the insurance company. Claimant didn't get that the insurance company was saying they don't intend to pay. The insurance company will try to delay paying for as long as it takes for a statute of limitations on any civil action to run out. In many states this is a mere two years from the date of denial. The claimant will be reluctant to throw in the towel and contact a lawyer when so much time has already been invested., especially when the nice insurance people are working so hard to help him, but just need a little more time.



If you can somehow get the insurance company past denial, you might find yourself with a paid claim, but sometimes only in part. Other times, they might not pay at all and deny the claim. Their very best tactic here is to deny the claim but never tell you that they are denying it! Yikes! When you realize you are at this stage of the game, it's well past time to get a lawyer. In the recent past, not all states have allowed punitive damages against insurance companies. Unbelievably, the insurance companies had almost nothing to lose by not paying you, and many claims would be dropped by people who were too sick to fight.



Here are some steps to assist you in getting your disability insurance medical claim paid. First, keep a separate written phone log of all contact with the insurance company. It should include dates, times, person spoken with, the nature of the call, and any followup action. Also keep a separate paper file for all documents, including the policy, correspondence, phone log, and expenses. Second, make sure you understand the policy. If questions arise, talk to the insurance customer service. If possible, record your calls. Although some states do not allow recording calls without one parties knowledge, you can still tell them you are doing so up front. One tactic for handling a situation where they don't allow you to record your conversation, is to let them call you back with information, then don't pick up and let it roll over in voice mail. Any message they leave can be recorded your lawyer. Third, get a sense of what the insurance company is trying to do. If you sense they are trying to delay or avoid paying the claim, contact an attorney, immediately! The statutes of limitations can vary greatly from state to state. Usually, you can get free upfront advice because they know you are a potential customer.