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Ortiz Law Firm | National Disability Law Firm
Ortiz Law Firm is dedicated to helping people recover the disability benefits they deserve. We handle group Long Term Disability (LTD) claims, individual disability insurance policy claims, ERISA disability claims, and Social Security Disability claims.
Many of our clients think that a long-term disability appeal package is simply a compilation of medical records sent to the insurance company with a cover letter identifying the package as an appeal. While that may be the case for claimants who file their own appeals, the appeal packages prepared by the Ortiz Law Firm …
Long-term disability (LTD) claims are very different than most other types of cases, including personal injury cases and Social Security Disability Insurance cases (although a Social Security Disability claim will impact your long-term disability claim – more on that later). Disability insurance companies understand the disability rules and …
If your long-term disability (LTD) claim is denied, it’s natural to feel frustrated and overwhelmed. However, a denial isn’t the end of the road. You can appeal a long-term disability denial, and many claimants successfully reverse denials through the appeals process. Appealing a denial of a long-term disability claim for benefits under …
If your claim for long-term disability benefits has been denied or terminated, the next step is to submit an administrative appeal. These advanced strategies for long-term disability appeals can be expensive and are not used in every case, but they can be highly effective in select cases. First of all, you might order your own …
If you have a long-term disability policy, either provided by your employer or through a policy you’ve acquired independently, you may qualify to receive disability benefits if you cannot work. The first step in determining your eligibility for benefits is to read your long-term disability (LTD) policy thoroughly. You can obtain a …
Why does the insurance company want your statement? The insurance company likely seeks your statement to find any inconsistencies between your account and the evidence in your file. Before the recorded statement, the insurance company may already have some information about you. The adjuster will have reviewed your benefits application, some of …
You’re probably here today because your long-term disability insurance company has denied your claim for benefits, saying they’re denying you due to a pre-existing condition. A pre-existing condition exclusion is a provision in a long-term disability insurance policy that limits or excludes coverage for a disability …
Long-term disability claims are heavily decided by the medical evidence that is provided as part of fulfilling your “proof of claim” or “proof of loss.” Ultimately, it is the claimant’s burden to prove that a physical or mental condition has so negatively affected the claimant that the claimant can no longer continue in his or her …
Age is a factor in most long-term disability claims as most long-term disability policies have an age limit. Reaching the Maximum Age For Benefits Most disability insurance policies end either at age 65 or at the claimant’s Social Security Normal Retirement Age – which currently ranges between 65 and 67 years old. There are some …
Are you curious about how your job and education impact long-term disability claims? The type of work you do and your level of education can drastically affect your claim’s outcome. We’ll explore these factors and offer insights to help you navigate the process more effectively. Own Occupation vs Any Occupation The differences …
Wondering if you can apply for both long-term disability and unemployment benefits at the same time? It’s a common question many face when dealing with sudden health issues and job loss. It’s possible, but it comes with specific rules and limitations. In this post, we will discuss how it works when you file for long-term …
One of the most common questions we receive is, “Can I be fired while I am out of work for disability?” When it comes to qualifying for long-term disability (LTD) insurance benefits, the key factor is whether your disability began before your employment was terminated. As long as your disability started before you were terminated, …
Some long-term disability claims go to the US Circuit Courts of Appeals. The United States Courts of Appeals (or circuit courts) are the intermediate appellate courts of the United States federal court system. That means they are the level between federal district courts and the United States Supreme Court. A court of appeals decides appeals …
Long-term disability insurance companies are well-known for hiring third-party investigators to put claimants under surveillance. They spend millions of dollars on surveillance to save billions in long-term disability claims. They want to “catch” you doing something you “shouldn’t,” like taking out the trash or enjoying your grandchild’s …
Social media has become how we share our lives with the world. Long gone are the days of printing and mailing pictures to family and friends. Now, with the click of a button, you can share photos or even live stream videos on social media, which creates a way for families to stay connected even …
In the context of this article, it’s important to distinguish between long-term disability buyout and settlement offers. A buyout offer is extended by the insurance company while you are actively receiving long-term disability benefits. A settlement offer, on the other hand, arises when you have been fully denied these benefits and …
Are you suffering from multiple disabling conditions? You may think that if you are suffering from a set of combined ailments, your long-term disability claim should get approved even faster than if you only suffered from one ailment. But in fact, the opposite is true. When claimants file for long-term disability for multiple disabilities, the …
So you are eager to rush in and file your claim for individual disability insurance benefits. That’s good. You do not want to wait too long to file your claim as you only have a limited time to file the claim, but STOP FOR JUST A MINUTE. There is one thing you must absolutely do …
Some long-term disability claims are appealed to a United States District Court. If the court upholds the LTD denial, the next step is to appeal the claim to the United States Court of Appeals. For claimants in Florida, Alabama, and Georgia, these appeals go to the Eleventh Circuit. In this article, we discuss the Eleventh Circuit Court’s …
Many claimants ask why the insurance company uses a vocational consultant when reviewing a claim. Isn’t the main issue whether you have a medical disability and you’re medically disabled under the policy? This is a very legitimate question. In this article, we discuss why a vocational assessment from a vocational consultant is a …
As an experienced Florida disability attorney who has handled thousands of complex disability cases since 2005, I am continually amazed that many lawyers still have not abandoned what I consider to be the dinosaur of billing method – the billable hourly rate. Why Would You Hire An Attorney At An Outrageous Hourly Fee When You …
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought unprecedented changes to every aspect of our lives. One area that is seeing dramatic changes is the healthcare industry. Hospitals have become trauma centers, and doctor’s offices have been overrun with patients experiencing COVID-19 symptoms. Many people are avoiding these areas for fear of contracting the virus. …
A fast-growing lawsuit in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has been filed against the NFL by nearly 4,000 former football players. They claim that the NFL “propagated its own industry-funded and falsified research to support its position” that athletes cannot receive long-term brain damage from playing football. The league’s highest medical …
Television personality Robin Roberts has disclosed that she has Myelodysplastic Syndrome, which can qualify an individual to receive long-term disability benefits. Myelodysplastic syndromes, commonly referred to as MDS, are not easily categorized. They encompass numerous different diseases and are a group of blood and bone marrow …