Anthem Disability Help

Anthem Disability Lawyer Representation for Your LTD Insurance Claim

Anthem is one of the world’s largest health benefit companies, with a primary focus on health insurance benefits. While revenues for Anthem top 17 billion annually, short and long term disability benefits is a small portion of their revenues. Anthem is an independent licensee of Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, but they sell most of their disability, life and AD&D insurance products under the name Anthem Life or Anthem Insurance Companies throughout the United States. Anthem has a very small stake in the disability insurance market, but with the talks of buying CIGNA corporation they could quickly become one of the largest in the US. Anthem has business relationships with numerous other entities and we have seen Anthem disability claims handled by a third party company called Custom Disability Solutions or their former parent company Wellpoint. We have also seen Anthem act as the third party disability administrator for large companies such as Eli Lilly and Company. After the Merger of Wellpoint and Anthem in 2004, some of the disability products were converted to the Anthem name.

Most Anthem Long Term Disability Policies Have Restrictive Language

Anthem’s disability products are only sold as Group plans, which means that most people covered by an Anthem disability policy are subject to ERISA regulations. From our experience, most of the Anthem disability policies contain a 24 month “own occupation” definition of disability and then they change to an “any occupation” definition of disability. We also commonly see Anthem disability policies which have a 24 month mental nervous limitation and a self reported symptoms limitation. One of the most restrictive items in an Anthem long term disability policy is that they will commonly require “objective medical evidence” of disability. There are frequent disputes as to what “objective evidence” constitutes and this frequently results in benefit denials. Some Anthem policies define “Objective Medical Evidence” as:

“medical signs” (including psychiatric signs) and “laboratory findings,” as documented by a Licensed Physician regarding disability status… Medical signs are anatomical, physiological, or psychological abnormalities that can be observed, apart from subjective statements of symptoms… Psychiatric signs are medically demonstrable phenomena that indicate specific abnormalities of behavior, affect, thought, memory, orientation, and contact with reality. They must also be shown by observable facts that can be medically described and evaluated. Laboratory findings are anatomical, physiological, or psychological phenomena that can be shown by the use of medically acceptable laboratory diagnostic techniques.

If you have a disability claim with Anthem, any of our disability insurance lawyers are available nationwide to assist you at any stage of your claim. We welcome you to contact us for a free lawyer consultation. We regularly track disability insurance claim denials and lawsuits throughout the country against Anthem. We also welcome your comments, complaints and feedback about your experience with Anthem so that other claimants can learn from your experience.

Resources to Help You Win Disability Benefits

Disability Benefit Denial Options

Submit a Strong Anthem Appeal Package

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

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Sue Anthem

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

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Get Your Anthem Disability Application Approved

We help claimants throughout the entire application process.

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Prevent an Anthem Disability Benefit Denial

We manage every aspect of your disability claim following claim approval.

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Negotiate an Anthem Lump-Sum Settlement

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

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Helpful Videos

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Disability Benefit Tips

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Why Must Your Disability Insurance Lawyer Understand Your Disabling Condition?

When it comes to securing your disability insurance benefits, it's vitally important that your disability insurance lawyer thoroughly understands the symptoms and impact of your disabling condition. Doctors can help you create strong medical records, but they're not accustomed to dealing with the rigorous documentation disability insurance companies require. Lea... Read More >

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 concerned that you're facing an uphill battle. Fortunately, the stronger your medical evidence, the greater the odds that your claim will be approved. On the other side of the coin, one of the most common reasons for denial of long term disability benefits involves too-weak med... Read More >

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

When you're seeking disability insurance benefits, your medical records and treating physician's statement are two of the most important components of your claim. But because the insurance company has a vested interest in denying your disability insurance claim, it often will rely on tactics like ambushing your doctor with a phone call in an attempt to get them ... Read More >

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

One thing many disability insurance claimants don't know about (or expect) from the claims review process involves video and social media surveillance. Disability insurance carriers often hire people to follow claimants around with a telephoto lens - or even send social media friend requests from fake accounts - to glean whatever information they can about the c... 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. You are sick and not able to work, yet your disability insurance company is telling you to return to work. The disability insurance company has denied your disability benefit claim and is basically calling you a liar. When receiving a disability denial letter or a ph... Read More >

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

One of the top reasons for terminating a claimant's long term disability benefits involves the change in the disability insurance policy's definition of "disability." This definition change often happens in conjunction with a vocational review, or an analysis of a claimant's medical records that tells the insurance company which jobs the claimant should be able ... Read More >

Disability Denial Reason #1 – Paper Review & IME

At Dell Disability Lawyers, we've seen insurance companies give countless reasons to deny long term disability benefits. However, most disability benefit denials tend to fall into one of a few categories - and one of the biggest ones is the paper review and independent medical exam (IME). Learn more about what this review process entails and what your claim file... Read More >

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 things in the process. When you’re experiencing an injury or illness that makes it difficult (or impossible) to work, it can be tempting to file a claim as quickly as possible – but unless a claimant has all their ducks in a row, this could actually delay the ultimate r... Read More >

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Dell Disability Cases

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Seven Surgeries and The Standard Still Denies Disability Insurance Benefits

Our client was employed with the State of Oregon as a Technical Support Representative. She sought disability through her employer provider LTD Policy with Standard due to low back, hip, and lower extremity pain. She had two hip, two knee and three back surgeries.After paying her for 1.5 years Standard hired a board-certified neurologist to perform a review ... Read More >

Sun Life Wrongfully Denies Disability After Paying For 23 Months

We represent a 57 year-old claimant who’s occupation was selling commercial vehicles for many years. Her job was very physical as it required her to climb in and out of semi-trucks multiple times a day as well as operate them which was very strenuous. She went out of work in due to ongoing and severe debilitating right hip, low back, and bilateral knee pain... Read More >

Nurse Denied Long-term Disability Benefits by Lincoln After the Definition of Disability Changed

Our client, a registered nurse for Dignity Health, found herself in a difficult situation after being diagnosed with lumbar spondylosis and left knee arthritis. She continued to work, however, struggled while attempting to work through chronic lower back pain and left lower extremity radicular symptoms on a daily basis. Sadly, her condition failed to improve and... Read More >

Lincoln Reverses Decision to Terminate LTD Benefits of Corporate Attorney after Dell Disability Lawyers Appeals the Decision

The claimant is an 64 year old former Corporate Attorney and at a prominent Florida business law firm who was forced to cease working in his highly successful and rewarding profession, job, and career on January 27, 2021, and to seek disability compensation under his policies with Lincoln due to severe symptomatology stemming from or following a viral COVID-19 i... Read More >

Transportation Manager with Brain Injury Wins Unum Disability Benefit Appeal

Unum unjustly terminated our client’s disability insurance claim after it had approved and accepted liability for six months. Unum unreasonably concluded, without any evidence of improvement, that the claimant had resumed the sustained work capacity to perform the material and substantial duties of her high level occupation as a Transportation Division Manage... Read More >

Prudential reverses decision to terminate LTD benefits of MRI Tech with Primary Progressive Multiple Sclerosis and degenerative Disc Disease

The claimant is a 58-year-old former MRI Technologist for Fairview Health Services who has long suffered from the debilitating effects of her chronic medical conditions. She has a history of neck pain as well as right arm pain and numbness dating back to 2005 with a reoccurrence of severe symptomatology in 2013. MRI of her cervical spine performed in August of ... Read More >

Engineer With Depression Wins Prudential LTD Appeal

The claimant is a former Senior Technology Services Engineer for Accolade, Inc. who was forced to cease working on May 25, 2021 and to apply for disability insurance benefits under his policy with Prudential because of severe symptomatology related to depression and anxiety. Prudential initially approved his claim for LTD benefits as his symptoms were demonstrat... 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 claim for short term disability benefits and spoke with Attorney Stephen Jessup. New York Life had initially approved her claim for short term disability benefits, but in doing so awarded benefits only on account of a mental health condition, even though our client had filed... Read More >

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Disability Lawsuit Stories

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California Court Finds Anthem's Long Term Disability Denial Unreasonable

In McIlhaney v. Anthem Life Insurance Company Long Term Disability Plan, a California Federal District Court held that Anthem was "unreasonable" in its denial of long term disability benefits to its claimant when the medical records supported her claim for benefits and Anthem made a mistake in its reading of plaintiff's Activities of Daily Living (ADL) report which contributed to its denial decision.This c... Read More >

Florida Court Holds Anthem Does Not Need to do Vocational Testing in Disability Denial

This ERISA case was not handled by our office, but we feel it can be instructive to others who may be in a similar situation as this claimant.In MacDonald v. Anthem Life Insurance Company, the plaintiff, who suffered from chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS), alleged Anthem was arbitrary and capricious in terminating her long term disability benefits on the grounds that she could work at "any gainful occu... Read More >

Michigan Court Agrees With Anthem's Denial of Long Term Disability Benefits

The Michigan Federal Court agreed that the plaintiff had physical limitations, but none of the activities from which she was restricted were required by her sedentary occupation Plaintiff's initial claim for long term disability benefits was denied by Anthem. The denial was upheld following three administrative appeals. After reviewing her medical records, all three separate independent reviewers agreed that a... Read More >

Anthem Disability Claim Denial Reversed by Nevada Court

District Court ProceedingsIn Decovich v. Anthem, a Nevada District Court granted Anthem's motion for summary judgment finding Anthem's denial of plaintiff's application for long term disability benefits was reasonable. According to the court, the "administrative record is voluminous, well-known to the parties, and its contents are not disputed." Accordingly, the court opinion provides only a brief synopsis... Read More >

Disability Denial Remanded to Anthem for Analysis of Claimant's Job Duties

Although this Virginia Federal ERISA long term disability case was not handled by our disability insurance lawyers, it is an example of how Anthem denies disability benefits by asserting claimants are not disabled from performing their job duties without ever determining or analyzing what those job duties are.Case HistoryIn the case of Wyant v. Anthem Life Insurance Company, Anthem denied long term dis... Read More >

Federal Court Orders Anthem Life & Disability to Reinstate Improperly Terminated Long Term Disability Benefits to a Fibromyalgia Claimant

The Indiana federal district court case of Kennedy v. Lilly Extended Benefit Plan is a refreshing example of how perseverance in asserting a claim for long term disability benefits after they have been terminated can pay off. The plaintiff suffered from the pain and stress of fibromyalgia as well as other medical problems which turned out not to be relevant to the court's order that Anthem reinstate her benefi... Read More >

An undiagnosed pre-existing condition will not result in denial of long-term disability benefits

On November 4, 2009, a ruling was handed down in the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals that will surely have insurance companies looking at how they define "pre-existing condition". Ruth Mitzel is certainly happy that the court affirmed the lower court's decision that Anthem Disability Insurance Company, her employer and insurer, had wrongfully denied her long-term life insurance benefits.When Mitzel was diag... 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 health information services at Integrity Health Care when she stopped working on August 7, 2017. She brought claims for benefits under an LTD insurance policy and a waiver of premiums under a life insurance policy.In order to be approved for LTD benefits, Plaintiff ... Read More >

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Reviews from Our Clients

S.S.

I am a physician in my 30s who was practicing in my hospital based medical specialty until my Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis began to severely limit my physical ability to work.

My husband and I were obviously in distress at these very unwanted life changes and frankly overwhelmed with the possibility of a long and traumatizing legal battle ahead of us. We knew we were legally entitled to benefits through the separate private individual and employer based ERISA disability insurance policies we had, but even cursory research and discussion with colleagues made it clear that insurance companies will strategize with their own legal teams to find ways to not pay out benefits. We found many before us who had fallen unwittingly into legal pitfalls that prevented them from ultimately obtaining benefits. We realized we needed to seek legal counseling.

We found Dell Disability Lawyers through their YouTube channel where their partners have videos discussing the legal intricacies and latest developments in private disability law. I was impressed by their dedication to the field and reached out through their website to request a free consultation.

We were delighted to hear that Mr. Steven Dell himself would be willing to take our case and felt assured that we would be represented by the best of the best.

We have not been disappointed in our expectation and have, in fact, been consistently very impressed. Steven Dell is clearly both knowledgeable and wise about dealing with these issues but more importantly, has shown kindness and impeccable honesty at each step of the way.

Merlin has demonstrated a very high capacity for organizing and handling the endless myriad of documents and communications between us and the insurance companies. She has also been very compassionate, accessible and forthcoming in dealing with our many anxiety fueled emails and telephone calls to her and we are very grateful for her involvement.

For over 7 months, we have been working closely with Steven Dell and Merlin Bryan from Dell Disability Lawyers as they have guided us through the process of review and initial application for benefits from our two insurance policies (Hartford and Ameritas).

We are happy to announce we just received approval of claim from the Hartford insurance company.

At this time we are still working with this firm as we await the final decisions from Ameritas policy that we are hopeful will have a similar outcome.

As anyone with a chronic and progressive illness can tell you, time becomes a very precious commodity. Through their representation, Dell Disability Lawyers has allowed us to focus the majority of our time enjoying the time and function I have left while resting assured that our disability case laid in competent and caring hands.

The truth is that no amount of money can make up for what we have lost, but it is a huge comfort to have a team like Dell Disability Lawyers at our sides to help us ensure we will be able to continue to care for ourselves and our families.

We highly recommend Dell Disability Lawyers, Mr. Steven Dell and Ms. Merlin Bryan to handle your disability insurance claim.

Thank you Steven, thank you Merlin!

We will certainly plan on leaving another review for completeness once we have our final decision from Ameritas.

Paula B.

I have been working with Dell Disability Lawyers for the past 5 years concerning my disability as it pertained to my employer. I have been more than pleased with them the entire time. They have always kept me informed of any paperwork needing completed or any changes coming ahead. Nothing has been a surprise. I would recommend them to you to help with your disability case if you’re trying to dip into the policy you’ve been paying for.

Michael M.

I am a physician who has been disabled for over 10 years. During this time I have been represented by Cesar Gavidia and his assistant, Danielle Lauria. Their representation on my behalf has allowed me to concentrate on dealing with my disability/disease process and all associated complications and not having to deal with all the things that are necessary in a disability insurance claim. Based on my personal experience from many years of practicing medicine I would consider their work product, insight and effort in the disability insurance claim procedures to be superior. I would recommnend them, which I have done, with my highest level of confidence. In short, you will be well served with this practice.

Dan P.

I had to retire from my career due to a bad back that restricted me from performing my duties. I had LTD insurance and after a few years of receiving monthly benefits from this insurance company, they notified me that my benefits were terminated stating that I don’t qualify due to my duties not fitting into some “national job description” and a nurse had deemed me eligible to go back to work. It’s a crushing feeling to have this told to you over the phone with hardly any information given. Luckily, I came across Dell Disability Lawyers and spoke with Attorney Palamara who calmed me down and stated they would take my case. Within a couple of months my benefits were restored, and I had piece of mind. I cannot thank Attorney Palamara and the staff at Dell Disability Lawyers enough for their professionalism, no nonsense approach, personal and timely communication and quick ability to litigate my case.

Jen S.

I wanted to thank Mr. Symonds and his legal assistant Sonia for their professionalism, guidance and dedication towards my LTD insurance claim. Going through the denial process on my own was going to get me sicker and I knew it was time for help right away. I reached out to Dell Disability Lawyers for assistance and not too long after my call, I was connected with Sonia. Soon after that, I was talking about my case with Mr. Symonds. After a long and tedious process with the LTD insurer, we won the case. The wait can absolutely be lengthy, but in the end, it was all very much worth the fight. Thank you both so much for all that you have done for me! I also want to thank those who assisted in keeping me updated, as needed. Highly recommended for anyone who is going through the brutal process of an LTD denial.

Carl G.

I would like to thank Dell Disability Lawyers for taking care of my case and help me get the insurance coverage that I was rightfully in need of. Specially, I would like to thank Attorney Alexander Palamara and right-hand legal assistant, Sonia Nogueira, who made this process less stressful. They answered all my questions and kept me informed every step of the way.

Don’t get me wrong. They never promised or told me that I was going to win my case, as no one can guarantee that for you. What they did do, was letting me know that they were working hard for me and to keep positive. Something that I recommend everyone to do is to subscribe to their YouTube channel. That will give you an idea on how they operate and why they (for most of their cases) win their cases.

Since I was awarded disability, I am still having surgeries and thanks to them, I’ve been able to cover all those expenses.

Warm regards to everyone at Dell Disability Lawyers!

Clarisa B.

I’m so very Grateful and Thankful for the team at Dell Disability Lawyers. They worked tirelessly to get the best outcome for me. I’m so glad that I found them!!

Carole S.

Exceptional, efficient and professional service from Jay Symonds and Sonia Nogueira. They were both so helpful and knowledgeable and navigated me through a very stressful and difficult situation with New York Life.

K. S.

Awesome team. Jay and his team, Sonia and Francesca, truly care. This team is very professional and quick to respond. Jay always provided answers in detail to my questions. I strongly recommend Jay Symonds.

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