Tucker Disability Law offers legal services which cover every major aspect of disability law. This sometimes involves providing counsel to guide clients through the claims process. In other cases, it means helping clients file an initial claim, pursue an appeal or secure their benefits through litigation. Whether your disability insurance policy is an individual or a group plan, our attorneys can help.
With more than 40 years of experience, our nationally recognized disability insurance lawyers can take on any insurance carrier. Some of the major carriers are listed below, along with their recent acquisitions which often results in a name change for the company you’ve known over the years (and clicking on the carrier’s name in the text link in the descriptions will take you to a specific page with more detailed information about the carrier):
Aetna
Aetna is one of the largest disability insurance companies in the U.S. This insurance carrier generates around 34 billion dollars a year. As far as their disability insurance policies go, we have observed that Aetna is very aggressive in denying claims, often relying upon a number of specific restrictions in Aetna policies. Failing to satisfy these restrictions may result in a disability insurance denial. Our disability insurance lawyers can help Aetna policyholders understand the terms of their policies and how to satisfy them when filing a long-term disability claim.
New York Life
(formerly Cigna)
New York Life/Cigna is another huge insurance company, generating billions of dollars in revenue every year. However, this insurance carrier has a troubling track record when it comes to denying claims. Unfair denials led New York Life/Cigna to face many lawsuits over the years, paying out settlements and fines to various states. We frequently see New York Life/Cigna engaging in unfair tactics like:
- Cherry-picking facts from physician reports to support flimsy denials
- Using hired paper-review doctors that never examine a disabled person to claim there is no disability
- Using surveillance which shows little to claim a person has no disability
- Delaying claims beyond the time allowed to make decisions
Importantly, this carrier had to reevaluate thousands of wrongfully denied claims. Our disability insurance lawyers work hard to ensure our clients are not on the receiving end of an unfair denial.
Guardian
(parent company of Berkshire Life)
This insurance carrier issues most of its policies under the Guardian name, but also issued individual coverage under the Berkshire Life brand. Over the years, we have not seen this carrier cause as many problems for our clients as others. However, when its adjusters target a claim for denial or termination, their tactics can be very aggressive. We offer counsel to those who are being paid by Guardian, and when it denies or terminates claims, have successfully fought to get our clients paid.
The Hartford
This disability insurance giant is no stranger to denying long-term disability claims. To do this, The Hartford engages in a number of sly tactics. Our disability insurance lawyers work closely with our clients to prevent them from falling prey to these tactics. These preparations take into account what we frequently see Hartford do, like:
- Sending a field investigator to a claimant’s home for an interview
- Gathering surveillance footage to use against a policyholder’s claim
- Requiring a claimant to take specific medical exams or functional capacity tests administered by a doctor of their choosing
- Privately requesting information from a claimant’s doctor
Lincoln Financial Group
(parent company of Liberty Mutual, Liberty Life, and Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.)
This insurance carrier has a relatively decent track record when it comes to fairly assessing disability claims. However, Lincoln Financial can be tough when assessing medical documentation of disabling illnesses or injuries. They often deny long-term disability claims when the medical information submitted is inconsistent with the definition of disability as outlined in a claimant’s policy. Our disability insurance lawyers can help Lincoln Financial policyholders avoid this mistake or file an appeal to correct it.
While parent company Lincoln Financial has a decent track record, disability insurance claims filed with Liberty Mutual are difficult to win. This insurance carrier (acquired by Lincoln Financial in 2018) works hard to undermine a policyholder’s claim so that it does not have to pay out benefits. To do this, Liberty Mutual often unfairly denies or terminates legitimate claims by taking the position that a person has the ability to work. This is frequently done based on peer-review doctors who write reports without ever examining the insured. For example, this carrier will often argue that a disabled claimant can still work so long as they can sit for 4-6 hours and they will get one of their doctors to give an opinion that the person can sit for that long. As our attorneys know, this is not always true. Many disabled people experience symptoms that interfere with their ability to work even in a sedentary capacity.
To learn more about the legal assistance we provide to help Liberty Mutual disability insurance claimants, schedule a free consultation with our firm.
Metlife
MetLife is another titan of an insurance provider, with over $70 billion generated in annual revenue. A few years ago, MetLife stopped selling new individual disability insurance policies, focusing their sales exclusively on the group disability. This is because of protections that the federal employee benefits law, ERISA, provides. Perhaps because of this, we have started to see MetLife get more aggressive with denying or terminating claims under individual policies MetLife issued in the past.
This carrier offers short-term and long-term disability policies which are available for purchase either individually or through a group or employer. If MetLife denied your claim, our disability attorneys can help. We offer counsel to claimants with both individual and group policies. Our attorneys can help claimants with these policies at any stage in the claims process.
Principal
This insurance carrier is not one of the largest players in the disability insurance market, but we have seen an increasing number of claim denials and terminations from them in the last year or so. Our clients have seen Principal aggressively use examinations by doctors they choose to deny or terminate claims. We frequently offer counsel to individuals who have claims that are being paid by Principal we also have aggressively fought many denied claims against them in recent years.
Reliance Matrix
(brand name for Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company, including Reliance Standard, Standard Security Life, and Matrix Absence Management)
Reliance Matrix emphasizes the importance of comprehensive documentation for disability claims, which can lead to additional requests and potential delays. However, they generally show a willingness to communicate and resolve claims promptly.
Yet, it is essential to be prepared for potential difficulties when dealing with Reliance Matrix. They have been known to search for reasons to deny claims rather than objectively evaluating the evidence. This approach results in obstacles throughout the claims process, leading to much frustration. There have also been instances where Reliance Matrix relies on in-house medical consultants, whose evaluations may be perceived as biased or lacking in expertise.
In response to these challenges, Tucker Disability Law attorneys possess a comprehensive understanding of Reliance Matrix’s policies and procedures. We’re equipped to provide diligent advocacy, ensuring thorough documentation, effective communication, and strong representation on behalf of our clients in order to achieve favorable outcomes when dealing with Reliance Matrix.
Sun Life
Sun Life’s claims process often presents significant challenges, as the company has been known to actively search for reasons to deny claims instead of objectively evaluating the evidence. This approach results in frustrating delays and roadblocks for clients already facing financial hardships due to their disabilities. Sun Life frequently demands extensive documentation and additional information, creating burdens for both clients and their legal representatives. They heavily rely on in-house medical consultants, who may lack expertise and impartiality, leading to biased evaluations of claimants’ conditions.
Sun Life’s denial of claims is often based on subjective interpretations of policy language and selective use of medical evidence. They may rely on outdated or irrelevant medical records, dismiss treating physicians’ opinions, and disregard the functional limitations experienced by claimants. At Tucker Disability Law, our attorneys are prepared to navigate these challenges and advocate successfully for our clients in the face of Sun Life’s stringent evaluation process.
The Standard
The Standard is a disability insurance provider that runs a tight ship. This company is strict when it comes to assessing claims. They have an extensive network of claims examiners, consultants, and in-house doctors dedicated to scrutinizing claims. This means that policyholders should take extra precautions when trying to secure benefits.
The Standard often insures school systems and it also provides claim services for another insurer’s group claims, Northwestern Mutual. You will need to understand your policy’s ins and outs when it comes to The Standard, and Tucker Disability Law can help you with this.
Unum
(parent company of Provident Life, John Hancock, Colonial Life, The Paul Revere Life Insurance Company)
Unum is notorious for facing lawsuits over their unfair handling of disability claims. All fifty states have previously sued Unum for this very reason. As a result, Unum has had to reassess thousands of unfair denials spanning many years. One common practice Unum policyholders have experienced is a delay in the claims process. By dragging out this process, Unum discourages claimants from continuing to pursue their case. Policy holders with Unum and its subsidiary companies like John Hancock and Provident should keep this in mind when trying to secure their benefits.
Do you have questions about recovering disability insurance benefits?
Whether your disability insurance coverage is provided by Unum, Aetna or any other major insurance carrier, our attorneys have the experience to help you seek the benefits you need.
Our Disability Insurance Lawyers Take on Major Insurance Carriers to Secure Your Benefits
While taking on a major insurance carrier may seem daunting, securing your benefits is possible. While insurance providers are notorious for denying claims, they are no strangers to overturning these decisions either. Tucker Disability Law can help you get your benefits, regardless of where you are in the process. To learn more about your legal options, schedule a free consultation with us today. You can do so by sending us a message online or by calling (866) 994-5399.
