Tips For What an Anesthesiologist Should Expect in a Disability Insurance Claim

Disability Companies Often Misconstrue the Duties of an Anesthesiologist

Disability insurance companies are notorious for challenging disability claims filed by anesthesiologist. We have represented numerous anesthesiologist and the disability companies always minimize the duties that are required to perform the job. The field of anesthesiology is broad as there is operating room anesthesiology and pain management. Further, the field of anesthesiology has changed a lot by allowing nurse anesthetist to work in the operating room. There are many anesthesiologists that don’t work with any assistants in the operating room or in any other capacity.

Most disability insurance companies do not understand the complexities involved in proper airway management and intubation techniques. Further, they do not understand the fact that every second a patient is under anesthesia is critical and failure for an anesthesiologist to be able to react instantly can result in catastrophic injury or death.

Why is the definition of disability critical for an anesthesiologist? 

The definition of disability in the policy is critical in determining if an anesthesiologist will qualify for disability insurance benefits. A true own occupation definition of disability is the best definition and that means that if you cannot perform the duties of your occupation then you are disabled. Unfortunately, many anesthesiologists have employer provided disability policies and the definition of disability says unable to perform the duties of how your occupation is performed in the national economy and not for your employer.

This “national economy” definition of disability can be dangerous as the carrier can attempt to argue that the job can be performed by supervising a nurse anesthetist. To fully understand your occupational duties, the disability company will request your monthly and annual Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) production code reports. In the video above attorneys Gregory Dell and Cesar Gavidia discuss how the disability carrier will interpret different definitions of disability and provide tips for anesthesiologists to obtain disability claim approval. 

Appropriate Medical Support Is Essential For Claim Approval

The most important evidence in any claim for disability benefits is appropriate medical support from your treating doctors. The disability company will closely scrutinize your medical records and require that you are treating with the doctors that are appropriate to your diagnosis(s). The medical records must be detailed, which means your complaints must be detailed and any objective finding must be documented. It is important that you undergo any testing and follow-up with any recommended treatments, medications, and doctor consult referrals. When helping an anesthesiologist to obtain disability benefits, our disability lawyers work very closely with you and your treating doctors. If we do not think you have enough medical support, then we will recommend additional medical treatment that will help to support your claim.

Total v. Residual Disability Claims for an Anesthesiologist 

We often represent anesthesiologists that are unbale to perform anesthesiology but can retain and perform another field of medicine or a non-medical job. In a true own occupation definition of disability, an anesthesiologist can usually collect their full monthly benefit and work in a different occupation. Most anesthesiologists have individual disability policies and these policies usually allow an anesthesiologist to collect residual disability benefits if they either reduce their hours or eliminate certain duties. We have represented several anesthesiologists that became totally disabled from operating room anesthesiology and were able to collect total disability benefits after they retrained in pain management. Our job as disability insurance attorneys is to help you plan so that you can maximize the benefits under your disability policy and engage in another type of work should you desire to do so.  

Every Disability Company Sells Different Disability Policies and You Should Know About Your Disability Company

The language in your disability policy is specific to you and most disability policies contain different language. Every company sells different disability policies and every disability company has their own methods for handling a long-term disability claim. We have seen every type of disability policy. Our lawyers have handled thousands of disability claims with every disability insurance company and we know exactly what it takes to get your benefits paid.

We want you to learn about your disability company by searching on our website for information about your disability company. You will be in a much better position to collect disability benefits if you know as much as possible about your company. We encourage you to contact any of our disability attorneys for a free initial consultation to discuss your long-term disability benefit claim.  

Resources to Help You Win Disability Benefits

Disability Benefit Denial Options
Submit a Strong Appeal Package

We work with you, your doctors, and other experts to submit a very strong appeal.

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Sue Your Disability Insurance Company

We have filed thousands of disability denial lawsuits in federal Courts nationwide.

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Protect Your Benefits
Get Your Disability Application Approved
We help claimants throughout the entire application process.

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Prevent a Disability Benefit Denial
We manage every aspect of your disability claim following claim approval.

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Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Our goal is to negotiate the highest possible buyout of your long-term disability policy.

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Disability Company Reviews
(641)
Showing 8 of 641 Reviews
New York Life

Keeps claiming they will not approve claim for pre existing conditions but my illness is not preexisting

Reviewed by M.T. on February 15th 2024   Verified Policyholder | May 2023 date of disability
I have been appealing a claim for LTD for 8 months! New York Life keeps claiming they will not approve claim for pre existing conditions but my illness is not preexisting ... read more >
Reliance Standard

Staff Lie

Reviewed by Tanya on February 12th 2024   Verified Policyholder | August 2021 date of disability
I had my disability cut off the day I was scheduled to find out whether I should have surgery. The claims examiner was aware that I had an appointment on that date and sai... read more >
Reply
Sent on February 12th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell

I am sorry to hear about your experience. It’s crazy that Reliance Standard would deny your disability benefits when you are suffering so badly that you need surgery.... read more >

Hartford

Former Hartford employee has had life insurance and accidental death policy's revoked for one late premium payment

Reviewed by Becky H. THOMAS on February 12th 2024   Verified Policyholder | February 2024 date of disability
Dislike how they are constantly interrupting the lives of their disabled EE's whom are entitled to benefit which they paid into out of there pay check every pay period onl... read more >
Reply
Sent on February 12th 2024 by Attorney Gregory Dell

Thank you for your review of Hartford and we appreciate you sharing.  It’s sad they don’t take care of their own employees.

Lincoln Financial

Never received benefits my entire leave - or help with them

Reviewed by Anna on December 19th 2023   Verified Policyholder | November 2023 date of disability
I used my short term disability insurance for maternity leave and started the process beforehand knowing when I would be out (scheduled induction.) It took a little over a... read more >
Sun Life

Unscrupulous Tactics

Reviewed by Misseekayy on December 19th 2023   Verified Policyholder | May 2023 date of disability
Sunlife uses unscrupulous tactics in order to prevent payment of claims. They wait until it is close to the 30 day mark and then they ask for another form of information o... read more >
Sedgwick

Lame

Reviewed by Dennis T. on December 11th 2023   Verified Policyholder | March 2022 date of disability
My experience with Sedgwick and personell is as follows: Unhelpful, unprofessional and an overall unpleasant experience.
Unum

Low payments

Reviewed by Dorothy on November 30th 2023   Verified Policyholder | November 2023 date of disability
I was injured at work. I did house keeping in a hospital. I tore just about everything imaginable in my knee. I was let go from my job, because I was no longer able to do ... read more >
Lincoln Financial

Well Documented correspondence

Reviewed by Joshua on November 23rd 2023   Verified Policyholder | May 2023 date of disability
I read other situations and it’s all very similar to my case. I have received STD from May 2023 and when my FMLA run out LF would not respond or answer my calls. My last... read more >
Answered Questions by Our Lawyers
(2)
Showing 2 of 2 Answered Questions

Q: How can I avoid multiple offsets of my private DI policies by my SSDI amount?

Answered on June 6th 2023 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: ErinWe have dealt with this issue in the past and it’s complicated. We would need to review both disabil... Read More >

Q: Which Own Occupation insurance company has the best history of paying for legitimate disability claims?

Answered on February 21st 2019 by Attorney Gregory Dell
A: Nicole, unfortunately we cannot tell you which carrier to choose over another, but I can tell you both Princip... Read More >
Helpful Videos
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Showing 12 of 873 Videos
Disability Benefit Tips
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Showing 8 of 330 Benefit Tips

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #5 – Your Medical Evidence is Weak

If you're seeking long term disability benefits from an insurance company, you may be concern... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #4 - Your Doctor Is Misled By the Disability Company

When you're seeking disability benefits under a long term disability policy, your medical rec... Read More >

Disability Benefit Denial Reason #3 - Video & Social Media Surveillance

One thing many long term disability claimants don't know about (or expect) from the claims re... Read More >

How Do You Fight a Long-Term Disability Denial?

Getting a denial letter from your disability insurance company is one of the ultimate insults... Read More >

Disability Denial Reason #2 - Change of Disability Definition & Vocational Review

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Disability Denial Reason #1 – Paper Review & IME

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How to Apply for Reliance Standard Disability Benefits & Top 5 Reasons for a Claim Denial

At Dell & Schaefer we’ve handled hundreds of long term disability insurance claims against Reliance Standard, and have learned a few thi... Read More >

Applying for Standard Disability Benefits? Top 5 Claim Denial Reasons

At Dell & Schaefer, we've helped hundreds of clients recover long term disability benefit... Read More >
Dell Disability Cases
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Showing 8 of 372 Dell Disability Cases

Anesthesiologist Approved for Long Term Disability Benfits Plus an Extra 9 Months of Benefits

Our client, an Anesthesiologist, suffered a fall at his home which resulted in rupturing his ... Read More >

Transportation Manager with Brain Injury Wins Unum Disability Benefit Appeal

Unum unjustly terminated our client’s long term disability claim after it had approved and... Read More >

Engineer With Depression Wins Prudential LTD Appeal

The claimant is a former Senior Technology Services Engineer for Accolade, Inc. who was force... Read More >

New York Life Approves Disability Benefits for School Teacher With Multiple Sclerosis

Our client, a former elementary school teacher suffering from Multiple Sclerosis, contacted our office after New York Life terminated her clai... Read More >

Lincoln Denies Disability Insurance Benefits to 66 Years old Software Developer with Long Covid and MS

Our client came to us after he was denied continued Long Term Disability (LTD) benefits by The Lincoln National Life Insurance Company. Previ... Read More >

Lincoln LTD Denial Reversed for an Occupational Therapist that was Denied Benefits After 24 Months

Our now client came to us after she received a denial letter following her receipt of long term disability b... Read More >
Disability Lawsuit Stories
(765)
Showing 8 of 765 Lawsuit Stories

Anesthesiologist Loses Disability Insurance Lawsuit Against Sun Life Assurance Company in Pennsylvania Federal Court

On September 16, 2013, a Pennsylvania Federal Judge ruled that Sun Life Assurance Company was correct in denying long term disability insuranc... Read More >

Anesthesiologist files lawsuit against Paul Revere alleging wrongful deduction of social security retirement benefits

On April 29, 2011, Dr. Phillip W. Watson and his disability attorney filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court Southern District of ... Read More >

Nurse anesthetist denied long-term disability benefits for drug addiction by Continental casualty loses at trial and on appeal

Robert Stanford was a nurse anesthetist in a hospital in South Carolina. In his position, he was exposed to and responsible for administering ... Read More >

Reliance Standard Disability Denial Upheld Due to Claimant's Lack of Strong Medical Record Support

In the case of Amy Wright v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company (Reliance), Plaintiff was the vice-president of... Read More >

Unum Wrongfully Terminated Disabled Lawyer’s Disability Claim of Depression and Anxiety Despite Improvement in His Condition

This Unum lawsuit and appeal in federal court is a great victory for all Unum disability claimants. This ca... Read More >

Federal Court Overturns Aetna Denial Of Disability Benefits

In the recent case of Ferrin v. Aetna Life Ins. Co. a federal judge from the Northern District of Illinois determined that Aetna improperly te... Read More >

Court Finds Irregularities in Procter & Gamble Long Term Disability Benefit Denial

In ERISA cases filed in a district court asking for judicial review of a plan administrator's denial of benefits, the court is generally limit... Read More >

Federal Judge Makes Companion Life Insurance Pay Long Term Disability Benefits

Companion Life tried to play games and deny long term disability benefits, but thankfully a New Mexico Federal Judge made them pay disability ... Read More >

Reviews from Our Clients

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5 Ways We Help Get Your Benefits Paid

Get Your Disability Application Approved

Our goal is to get your application for disability income benefits approved. Applying for disability benefits can be a difficult process and the information you provide is critical. Most disability insurance companies look at your application in hopes of finding a reason to deny your claim. Your disability company will ask you to complete numerous forms, interview you, request lots of information, speak with your doctors and possibly request to have you examined by their "hired gun" doctor.

Through our experience of having helped thousands of disability insurance claimants, our lawyers will guide you through the entire application process and give you the best chance to get your disability claim approved the first time.

Submit A Strong Appeal Package

If your disability insurance benefits have been wrongfully denied, then our lawyers know exactly what it takes to get your disability claim approved. You only get once chance to submit an Appeal, therefore every piece of evidence that will support your disability claim must be included. The goal is to win your disability benefits at the Appeal level, but while preparing your Appeal you must consider how a federal judge will review your disability claim if your benefit denial is upheld.

Preparing a strong disability appeal package is an art that requires you to understand how the courts interpret your disability policy language, ERISA regulations / laws, and how to strategically present evidence in support of your definition of "disability". We encourage you to contact any of our lawyers for a free immediate review of your disability denial.

Sue Your Disability Company

98% of the disability insurance lawsuits filed by our law firm have resulted in either the payment of benefits or a lump-sum settlement agreement. Our disability lawyers have filed ERISA governed and private policy long term disability insurance lawsuits against every major disability insurance company in state and federal courts nationwide and we love fighting for the "little guy" against the multi-billion dollar insurance company giants.

We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients and we would like the opportunity to provide you with a free review of your disability benefit denial. There are many complex factors in a disability benefit lawsuit and the legal battle to win long term disability benefits can be fierce.

Prevent A Disability Benefit Denial

Approval of long-term disability is a continuous process as every disability insurance company will evaluate your eligibility for benefits on a monthly basis. You can never let your guard down and assume that your disability company will continue to pay your benefits for as long as you think you need them.

Our law firm offers a reasonable flat fee monthly claim handling service in which we handle every aspect of your long-term disability claim and do whatever it takes to make sure you are paid every month.

Negotiate a Lump-Sum Settlement

Let's discuss if a lump-sum settlement or buyout of your disability insurance claim is both available and makes financial sense for you. Our lawyers have negotiated more than five-hundred million dollars in disability insurance buyouts and we know how to get you a maximum settlement. A disability insurance company is not required to offer a buyout and not every disability company offers them.

Questions About Hiring Us

Who are Dell Disability Lawyers?

We are disability insurance lawyers that know how to get your short or long term disability benefits paid. As a nationwide law firm we have helped thousands of disability insurance claimants throughout the United States to collect hundreds of millions of dollars of disability insurance benefits from every major disability insurance company.

In more than 98% of our cases, our lawyers have been able to either get our clients paid monthly disability benefits or obtain a one-time lump-sum settlement. Our lawyers have seen it all when it comes to disability insurance claims and we know exactly what it takes for your disability claim to be approved.

We welcome you to contact any of our attorneys for a free immediate review of your disability claim. We also invite you to visit and subscribe to our YouTube channel where we have more than 700 videos and regularly provide tips to help protect your disability benefits.

Who do you help?

Our lawyers help individuals that have either purchased a long term disability insurance policy from an insurance company or obtained short or long term disability insurance coverage as a benefit from their employer. We have helped individuals in almost every type of occupation with monthly disability benefit payments ranging from $1,500 to $50,000.

Our clients include all types of employees ranging from retail associates, sales representatives, government employees, police officers, teachers, janitors, nurses, pilots, truck drivers, financial advisors, doctors, dentists, veterinarians, lawyers, consultants, IT professionals, engineers, professional athletes, business owners, and high level executives.

A strong understanding and presentation of the duties of your occupation is essential for securing disability insurance benefits.

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 phone, email, fax, GoToMeeting 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 800-698-9159 or by email. Lawyers 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.