Met Life Long-Term Disability Insurance Claims

The attorneys at Frankel & Newfield have successfully represented many Met Life disability insurance claimants in their quest for their disability insurance benefits.

We regularly work with clients on MetLife short-term disability claims, as well as long-term disability insurance claims, and help our clients transition from short-term to long-term disability. If your MetLife disability claim has been denied, or if your claim has been terminated, call Frankel & Newfield at 877-LTD-CLAIM (877-583-2524) to find out how we can help you.

MetLife is one of the world’s biggest insurance companies. Fortune Magazine ranks it as number 43 of the top 500 largest companies in America. When a working person needs to get their disability insurance claim paid, it is the battle of one person against a large corporation. This is why disability claimants have come to rely upon Frankel & Newfield when their ERISA and non-ERISA disability insurance claims are being delayed, denied or terminated by MetLife.

We have you protected

❯❯ Read a recent success story

MetLife sells group disability insurance protection to employees through employers (often governed by ERISA) and also directly to individuals (usually non-ERISA). The disability insurance attorneys at Frankel & Newfield have represented many clients in battles for their disability insurance benefits.

We know their strategies, including how their administrative claims process works, what their in-house counsel looks for and how their outside attorneys work.

Our experience with fighting for disability claimants against MetLife has taught us a lot about how the company seeks to deny disability claims:

Clients Choose Us Because We:

• Have recovered $200M+ for our clients.
• Have seen your situation before.
• Are aggressive in our approach.
• Know the tactics used by the insurance companies.
• Hold high AV Ratings & received the Super Lawyers designation each year.

MetLife’s Disability Claims Review Process

• MetLife frequently uses members of the company’s own in-house nursing staff to review complex medical issues. We have had clients who were being treated by nationally-recognized medical experts, and their reports were reviewed by employees with little or no understanding of the medical specialty.
• Medical reports are often controlled in what seems to be a somewhat calculating manner. The insurance reviewer sends only portions of medical records to a nurse or doctor to review. Without the entire record, the person cannot possibly give an accurate and reasonably fair evaluation.
• MetLife will utilize repeat doctors for paper only reviews – doctors who courts have said have their “bread buttered” by an insurer.

MetLife’s Use of Surveillance to Deny Disability Claims

Most, if not all, insurance companies use surveillance to capture claimants, and obtain videos and photos of individuals who they believe are not really disabled, or who they want to challenge – often due to the amount of the monthly benefit. MetLife tends to be more aggressive in its use of surveillance, perhaps because it has access to unlimited resources. We counsel our clients to be mindful of their appointments, and keep an appointment calendar so that when the MetLife disability policy is challenged because of their attending doctor’s appointments, they can easily point to what they were doing on the day, date and time of the video or photograph.

Frankel & Newfield also advises all of our clients, particularly those with disability insurance through MetLife, to be very cautious about posting their activities on social media. You may only have one good day in six months, but if a photo of you taking a stroll on a beach shows up in your social media feed, or if you are tagged by someone else in a post, it will be found and used by MetLife to deny your disability claim.

Awards

Aggressive and Antagonistic Approach Toward Mental Health Claims

Individuals who have filed for a mental/nervous disability claim are even more vulnerable than disabled individuals who have a physical disease. Unfortunately, we have had a number of experiences where MetLife has treated claimants in an antagonistic and aggressive manner. We find this unprofessional and mean-spirited, but we have seen it often enough to understand that is a strategy.

Numerous courts have chastised Met Life for its claim handling conduct. We believe that an insurance company has a right to question a claim, but does not have a right to be antagonistic towards vulnerable policy owners.

Here are the ways in which we help our clients with MetLife claims:

• Pre-claim strategizing to help ensure seamless transition to claim
  
  We conduct a thorough review of your claim to uncover any weaknesses. With years of experience in the MetLife claims process, we know what the insurance adjusters are looking for, where the red flags are raised and what you can expect as your claim goes through the process.
• Claim preparation and claim management;
  
  We will help prepare all documentation for your claim, including a review of your medical records and your disability insurance policy. In most cases, we speak with your treating physicians to ensure that they understand how important they are to the success of your claim. We’ll be your representative to MetLife, so that you can focus on getting better or managing your illness.
• Defending claimants from aggressive claim tactics (including requests for Functional Capacity Evaluation, Independent Medical Exam, Field Visit)
  
  MetLife can be intrusive as it evaluates your claim and throughout the time that you are on claim. We will ensure that you only go to medical tests when they are required by the provisions in your contract, and that you are physically protected from the challenges posed by the Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE), a controversial examination that has been the subject of many legal battles.
  
  Field visits are an aggressive tactic. We don’t believe that anyone should be subject to a surprise visit by a representative from an insurance company without notice. We will help you prepare for such an event, and defend yourself within the rights that are established through your policy.
• Appealing ERISA denied or terminated claims
  
  We have an excellent track record appealing denied and terminated ERISA disability insurance claims with MetLife. We represent our clients with an aggressive, strategic approach that counters the defenses made by insurance attorneys. Read a success story here.
• Litigating claims following Exhaustion of Administrative Remedies.
  
  We don’t give up. When necessary, we commence litigation against MetLife in federal court, and we have an excellent track record in court as well.
• Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance Claims Against MetLife
  
  Our attorneys work with clients on MetLife short term disability claims, as well as long term disability insurance claims.

Here are a few examples:

Client suffering from conditions including chronic intractable migraines, vestibular migraines, vertigo, persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), and chronic pain, is unable to perform the duties of her position as a Strategy Plan and Administrative Manager for a large banking institution. After her short-term disability claim from MetLife was exhausted, she applied for long term disability and was denied. Frankel & Newfield attacked the flawed vocational analysis of her position as well as the inaccurate medical peer reviews. We won the MetLife appeal and our client receives a large disability check every month from MetLife. Click here to read the complete case history.

Client suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is denied benefits by a few of MetLife’s “regular” reviewing doctors and the issue of impartiality by doctors on MetLife’s payroll continues to an issue. Our client got back benefits for more than three years and is now on claim.

Our client has several “red flag” conditions and a very high monthly benefit, both of which attract intense scrutiny from claims representatives. A nurse reviewed her extensive medical records and failed to find any disability. We fought back – and won with a strong appeal that eviscerated their shabby review of a clearly disabled individual. She is now being paid the benefits she is entitled to.

Frankel & Newfield has many years of experience with MetLife long term disability claims and works with many MetLife policyholders who have had their claims denied, delayed and terminated.

If you need help with a MetLife disability claim, call our office toll-free at 1-877-LTD-CLAIM (877-583-2524).

Written By:

Jason A. Newfield - Disability Insurance Attorney

Jason Newfield is a founding partner of the disability insurance law firm Frankel & Newfield. He has spent the majority of his legal career advocating for the rights of disabled workers. He has lectured other professionals, worked on a Federal Advisory committee, and published many articles in the field of disability insurance claims and litigation.

Learn more about Jason | See Jason’s Publications