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Disability Insurance Attorney Rachel Alters
Rachel Faye Alters (rachel@diattorney.com) is a Partner in the Disability Income Division of Dell & Schaefer, Chartered. Rachel focuses her legal practice in representing claimants at all stages of a claim for individual or group (ERISA) long-term disability benefits including applications, ERISA appeals, ERISA litigation, ERISA exempt disability claims and lump-sum policy buyouts.
Rachel's Recently Resolved Cases (25)
- Cigna overturns decision to terminate benefits of Claimant suffering from Multiple Sclerosis
- Principal Reinstates Benefits of Orthopedic Surgeon Unable to Work Full-Time After Attorney Rachel Alters submits Appeal
- MetLife reverses decision to terminate LTD benefits after Dell & Schaefer files an appeal showing Metlife completely ignored physical conditions of claimant
- Mutual of Omaha Reinstates Benefits of Business Development Manager after Appealing the Termination of Her LTD Benefits
- Sun Life ignored its own medical expert’s opinions supporting registered nurse’s inability to work in a sedentary occupation due to severe rheumatoid arthritis
- After sending claimant to a psychiatric IME, Reliance Standard realizes its decision to deny benefits was incorrect
- Aetna overturns decision to deny LTD benefits for claimant suffering from post-concussion syndrome and neurocognitive disorder
- CIGNA overturns decision to terminate benefits of telephone sales representative with severe degenerative disc disease
- Cigna reverses its decision to terminate benefits of a claimant with Fibromyalgia, Cervical Spine Spondylosis and Depression
- Nearly Three Years Later, Sedgwick Finally Pays Walgreens’ Pharmacist’s STD and LTD Claim
- Cigna reverses decision to terminate benefits of claimant suffering from end-stage Myasthenia Gravis
- Lincoln Reversed Decision to Deny Benefits of Project Manager Suffering from Chronic Paroxysmal Hemicranial Cluster Headaches
- Liberty’s Decides to Terminate Benefits to a Claimant with Multiple Sclerosis Based on 40 Minutes of Surveillance Video
- Hartford Reversed Decision To Terminate Claimant’s LTD Benefits After Submitting an Appeal
- Cigna Reverses Long Term Disability Denial And Admits Denying Benefits To Attorney Stricken With Parkinson’s Was Wrong
- Hartford Settles Disability Claim of 60 Year-Old Account Executive After Terminating LTD Benefits
- Metlife Admits Decision To Deny Ltd Benefits To Claimant With Chronic Fatigue Due To Congestive Heart Failure Was Wrong
- Metlife Admits Decision to Deny LTD Benefits Based on Fibromyalgia Limitation Was Incorrect When Claimant’s Primary Diagnosis Was Meniere’s Disease
- Cigna Reverses Disability Denial And Admits Its Decision To Deny Benefits To Attorney Stricken With Parkinson’s Was Wrong
- Hartford Admits Decision to Deny LTD Benefits to Claimant with Chronic Lyme Disease Was Wrong
- Reliance Standard reverses long term disability denial following appeal submitted by Attorneys Dell & Schaefer
- Woman with multiple sclerosis files long term disability benefit denial lawsuit against Prudential Insurance Company
- UNUM Insurance Company reverses disability insurance denial for CFO/VP of Finance
- Standard Insurance Company reverses disability insurance denial for a disabled lawyer
- Disability lawyers win ERISA long term disability appeal against Hartford
Rachel's Videos
Rachel's Articles (48)
- Can Standard Insurance Company’s Failure to Raise an Issue be Considered a Waiver?
- Was Eaton’s Denial of LTD Benefits for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome Arbitrary and Capricious?
- Court Orders Western & Southern Financial Group to Pay Short Term Disability Benefits
- Cigna’s Termination of Disability Benefits was Arbitrary and Capricious
- Court Remands to Sedgwick for Reevaluation of Its Denial of Claim for Disability Benefits
- Court Rules Against United of Omaha’s Determination of Disability Date
- Unum Tells a Pharmacist On Narcotics That She Is Not Disabled and Denies Benefits
- Court Orders Principal Life to Reinstate Long Term Disability Benefits
- Court Remands Finding That Reliance Arbitrarily Denied Disability Benefits
- Hartford Disability Company Field Interview Request and Video Surveillance
- Principal Life Disability Denial of Truck Driver Reversed by Washington Federal Judge
- California Court Rules Disability Claim Accrues When Disability Terminates
- Court overturns United of Omaha’s termination of Plaintiff’s benefits after performing an unfair “any occupation” review
- Court Rejects Expanded Mental Illness Limitation to Coverage
- First Circuit Finds for Plaintiff and Awards Retroactive Mental Health Benefits
- Oklahoma Court Remands to Give Plaintiff the Opportunity to Respond to Unum’s Allegations
- Federal Court Reverses Unum’s Denial of Long-Term Disability Benefits
- Michigan Court Finds Plaintiff Eligible for Long Term Disability Benefits
- Department of Labor Issues New Disability Claims Regulations Under ERISA Affecting Disability Claims Filed in 2018
- Disability Insurance Companies Deny Claims Based on Non Compliance
- Court Orders Sedgwick to Pay Disability Benefits to Claimant with Carpel Tunnel Syndrome Even though the Employer Offered Her Accommodations
- Washington Court Finds Liberty Erred in Terminating Disability Benefits
- Court Orders Aetna to Pay Disability Benefits when Plaintiff was Found Capable of Working
- Arkansas Court Reverses Liberty Life’s Disability Denial for a Nurse
- Washington Court Finds Omaha Wrongfully Relied on Video Surveillance to Deny Disability Benefits
- Can UNUM Be Sued for Defamation in a Disability Insurance Case?
- Court Orders Aetna to Reconsider Termination of Disability Benefits Where Aetna Completely Ignored Treating Doctors Records and Recommendations
- When neither the Insurance Company nor the Claimant Can Produce the Original Disability Policy, the Burden is on the Plaintiff to Prove the Terms of His or Her Policy
- The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Proposes New Diagnostic Criteria and name for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- WARNING: Lincoln Financial Disability Denial Requires Two ERISA Appeals before Filing Suit
- Court Remands Fibromyalgia Case for Further Consideration after Finding MetLife Failed to Consider FCE Report and Vocational Evaluation
- Court Awards Attorney’s Fees After Disability Insurance Claim is Remanded Back to Sun Life
- Northern District of Illinois determines the exception to The Standard’s “limited conditions” provision does not apply when plaintiff failed to provide current positive MRI evidence of a herniated disc
- Fibromyalgia Claimants are Finally Being Heard: California Court Rules that Prudential May Not Deny Claim Based on Lack of Objective Evidence of Fibromyalgia or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Pennsylvania Court rules Unum did not abuse its discretion in denying LTD benefits to woman who claimed she could not work for her employer under her current supervisor
- Tennessee Court Rules That Hartford’s Failure to Examine Patient Was An Abuse of Discretion and Overrules Disability Denial
- Claimant Wins Summary Judgment Motion against MetLife After Court Determined that MRI was Sufficient to Diagnose Radiculopathy
- Suffering From Chronic Severe Lyme Disease? You Are Not Alone.
- California Court Rules That Hartford Acted Unreasonably and Reverses Disability Denial
- Accountant Punished by SunLife for Working Part-Time During Tax Season
- Sun Life Terminates Benefits After 24 Months Based on Nine Days of Surveillance
- Court grants partial summary judgment in favor of Plaintiff, remanding claim back to Aetna to review records it failed to review during the appeals process
- Attorney sues Unum to recover benefits after Unum terminates disability claim after learning attorney committed fraud; Unum counterclaims for over $1 million in overpaid benefits
- California Court holds that Hartford Abused Its Discretion in Denying Amazon.com employee LTD Benefits
- Alabama Court Refuses To Consider Additional Medical Evidence Submitted After Metlife’s Denial Of Claimant’s One Mandatory ERISA Disability Appeal
- New Research Reveals Potential “Cause” of Fibromyalgia and Objective Test
- Appellate Court Rules That Hartford’s Failure to Examine Patient Was An Abuse of Discretion and Overrules Disability Denial
- MetLife disability insurance plan has terrible language, but it complies with ERISA
Fun Facts About Rachel
We are not your typical law firm. We are always thinking outside of the box so that we can keep our clients a step ahead of the insurance companies. Customer service with our clients is an essential element as we want every case handled as if it was our own. Since the lawyer that you work with at our firm will need to know a lot about your life, we think it is important that you have the opportunity to learn more about the lawyer(s) working on your case. Here are some interesting and fun facts about Rachel Alters:
- Describe yourself in three words: Loyal, caring and independent
- Best to do in your free time: Hang out with my kids
- Favorite places to travel: Colorado, California and Utah
- Favorite food: Chocolate
- Favorite TV Show: Homeland
- Favorite Movie: Scarface
- Favorite Book: Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
- Favorite musician: Luther Vandross
- Favorite quote: “Every man’s life ends the same way. It is only the details of how he lived and how he died that distinguish one man from another.” – Ernest Hemingway
- What do you like about your job: I love my job because I am surrounded by amazing people who I consider to be my family as well as friends.
Rachel has assisted thousands of disability insurance claimants throughout the country who are either seeking disability benefits or have had their benefits denied. Rachel is passionate about helping her clients to obtain disability benefits and has committed her legal career to enforcing the rights of the injured and disabled. She has assisted claimants with claims against every major disability insurance company and has earned a reputation as an intelligent and sharp disability lawyer. Unlike most lawyers that claim they handle disability insurance claims, Rachel has the experience and ability to take a disability case from inception through a final appeal or trial.
In 1993, Rachel received her undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan, where she received a B.A. in Psychology. She earned her J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1997. In the beginning years of her legal career Rachel represented physicians, hospitals and nursing homes who were sued for alleged malpractice. After a few years of legal training doing defense work, Rachel became a plaintiff’s attorney in 2000 and she has achieved tremendous results for her clients. Some of Rachel’s legal accomplishments include a $6 million jury verdict for a client that was misdiagnosed with cancer, a $5 million dollar settlement for a client who suffered severe damage after undergoing pancreatic surgery, and a confidential settlement following a long term disability insurance class action against Prudential Insurance Company. Rachel has litigated hundreds of cases against insurance companies and she has outstanding legal writing skills.
Rachel is admitted to the Florida Bar and multiple federal districts courts. She is a member of the American Association for Justice (AAJ). Rachel represents clients throughout the USA and is available for a free consultation to discuss your disability claim.
Rachel has been recognized as one of the 100 Outstanding Women of Broward County for several years as a result of her charitable involvement. Since 2008, Rachel has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Hollywood Boys and Girls Club for over five years, dedicating her time to raise funds to help young people improve their lives by building self-esteem and reach their full potential as productive, caring and responsible citizens. Rachel has helped the organization to raise millions of dollars. In her free time, Rachel enjoys running, biking and snowboarding. Rachel has participated in several half marathons and triathlons. She is the proud mom of two boys and one girl.
Questions About Hiring Us
Do you work in my state?
Yes. We are a national disability insurance law firm that is available to represent you regardless of where you live in the United States. We have partner lawyers in every state and we have filed lawsuits in most federal courts nationwide. Our disability lawyers represent disability claimants at all stages of a claim for disability insurance benefits. There is nothing that our lawyers have not seen in the disability insurance world.
What are your fees?
Since we represent disability insurance claimants at different stages of a disability insurance claim we offer a variety of different fee options. We understand that claimants living on disability insurance benefits have a limited source of income; therefore we always try to work with the claimant to make our attorney fees as affordable as possible.
The three available fee options are a contingency fee agreement (no attorney fee or cost unless we make a recovery), hourly fee or fixed flat rate.
In every case we provide each client with a written fee agreement detailing the terms and conditions. We always offer a free initial phone consultation and we appreciate the opportunity to work with you in obtaining payment of your disability insurance benefits.
Do I have to come to your office to work with your law firm?
No. For purposes of efficiency and to reduce expenses for our clients we have found that 99% of our clients prefer to communicate via telephone, e-mail, fax, GoToMeeting.com sessions, or Skype. If you prefer an initial in-person meeting please let us know. A disability company will never require you to come to their office and similarly we are set up so that we handle your entire claim without the need for you to come to our office.
How can I contact you?
When you call us during normal business hours you will immediately speak with a disability attorney. We can be reached at 800-682-8331 or by email. Lawyer and staff must return all client calls same day. Client emails are usually replied to within the same business day and seem to be the preferred and most efficient method of communication for most clients.
Dell & Schaefer Client Reviews *****
Noah P.
A few years ago I found myself unable to work and needing treatment. While I was getting the treatment I needed my employer fired me. This left me still needing treatment as well as needing to find a source of income. Not knowing where to turn or what to do my wife an I contacted Dell & Schaefer for help. Upon speaking with attorney Stephen Jessup we felt assured that we had found the help we needed. Attorney Jessup worked with the attorneys from my former employer and explained my situation to them. During the weeks of negotiations attorney Jessup kept us informed as to the progress and ultimately called us with a settlement offer. We were so relieved and grateful!
But that is not where our story ended. After informing us of the offer presented by my former employer, attorney Jessup advised me that he felt he could get us a better settlement with just a bit more time. I discussed it with my wife and we both felt confident in attorney Jessup’s advice so we allowed him to further negotiate on our behalf. Sure enough, a more equitable settlement was reached in a very short time. During the entire process attorney Jessup and the staff at Dell & Schaefer handled everything with very little input needed from us. This allowed me the time and reassurance that I needed in order to heal. Their professionalism and reassuring manner never left me feeling concerned that I wasn’t being fully represented despite the fact that they rarely needed participation directly from me. In the end my confidence in them was rewarded with a better settlement than I was expecting. My wife and I are forever grateful. From my experience it would be very difficult for Dell & Schaefer to improve upon their process.
Speak With An Attorney Now
Request a free legal consultation: Call 800-682-8331 or Email Us
- We respond the same day.
- No fee / cost unless you get paid.
- No office visit necessary.
- We represent disability insurance claimants nationwide.
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