Why Do Disability Insurance Companies Deny Claims?
Disability Insurance Attorney Gregory Dell discusses the popular question of whether disability insurance companies deny all claims for long term disability benefits.
Some people will come up to me and say, “I heard I would have to be paralyzed in order for a disability insurance company to pay benefits.” I think you may be surprised by my answer.
The answer to this question maybe surprising to some, but the answer is obviously no; they don’t deny all claims. However, from our experience in this office and from our experience of attending claims conferences and speaking to other disability claimants around the country, we find on average that the disability insurance carriers are approving about 60% of applications that they initially receive for a claim.
We also get asked from the disability applicants that we represent what percentage of the claims are approved, and we always tell clients that that’s really not a fair question for us to ask because from all the calls that we get, we only represent people that we really think are going to be approved for claim. So from our internal statistics, at least 95% of the people we represent get approved for claim once we assist them with their application. The other 5% that don’t get approved is usually because our client didn’t tell us something that we should have known in order to include in the application, or the client’s just not being truthful with us and they go out and they’re seen on video doing something that they told either us or they told their doctor they weren’t able to do.
So when you call us, if we review your claim and we think that’s it’s something that we can help you with and we accept your claim, there’s a good chance that the long-term disability insurance carrier is going to approve your claim. If you have questions about your disability claim, feel free to call us for a free consultation.
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Disability Company Reviews
(668)
Showing 8 of 668 Reviews
Mutual of Omaha
90 days and still waiting
I filed for benefits in July, 2024 with an effective date of 7/30 (after the 14 day wait) and today is October 18th and my claim is still pending. They either don't want t... read more >
New York Life
NY Life Short Term Disability Team is Terrible
I am a physician and was in a high velocity rear impact car accident. The person slammed into my stopped car going almost 50mph. Was not physically or cognitively able to ... read more >
Sedgwick
Sedgwick will use the false need for discovery to deny your claim
Sedgwick will use the false need for discovery to deny your claim for as long as possible to wear you down because you are out of work and need the money.Lie, cheat and ... read more >
Unum
Unum does not act as a fiduciary
I received paycheck from 2 sources at work. I was approved for LTD by Metlife within 40 days, no questions asked. I was approved by NWM which was my private own occupation... read more >
Unum
UNUM denied my LTD claim after 6 months although my health continues to decline
An attorney is needed to monitor an open, ongoing claim. I naively thought payments would continue. Review of medical records by a disability attorney before submission to... read more >
MetLife
Horrible STD Service. Run !!!!
For the first time since I can remember my employer did not offer STD as one of my paid benefits so I’m paying for this policy. Had to file a claim on 6-14-25. Went thro... read more >
Reliance Standard
Reliance Standard cut off LTD suddenly claiming I could do sedentary work after 10 plus years… no paperwork sent to appeal
I’ve been on STD then LTD with Reliance since 1/2015. They sent a medical review in December 2024 to my old address which of course I never got the paperwork for. I emai... read more >
Sedgwick
Denial for benefits, Sedgwick is the worst
I was not paid for 7 months on STD. My appeal was finally approved, but in the meantime I lost company match on my 401k, and then they canceled my company insurance. Out o... read more >
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