What should policyholders know about an appeal?

As a disability insurance policyholder in the state of California, there may be a time when you need to make a claim. This comes about if you are too sick or injured to the point of not being able to do your job.

In a perfect world, your claim will be approved sooner rather than later. This will allow you to receive benefits and move on with your recovery. Unfortunately, there are insurance companies that deny claims for one reason or another. Sometimes, it appears they have a good reason for doing so. Other times, this is anything but the case.

Regardless of your situation, there are things you should know about the appeal process.

If you have a private policy, consult with the insurance company in regards to the appeals process. They can tell you what steps you need to take and how long it will be until you receive a response.

Another thing to remember is this: if you purchased the policy on your own, you are not required to file an appeal before filing a lawsuit. You have the right to move forward however you see fit, based on your current situation.

As a disability insurance policyholder, you never want to think about the word “appeal.” This means your claim was denied and you will now be faced with more challenges. Even so, it is good to know what to expect and how to deal with this should it arise. It could be the difference between eventually receiving benefits and finding yourself shut out from compensation altogether.

Source: Disabled World, “Disability Insurance Claims: Questions & Answers” accessed Mar. 24, 2015